The Campaign
Fairfield, CT., January 17, 2012 – "The Fairfield Police Explorers Post will launch a campaign to help motorists in the Fairfield area understand the dangers presented by distracted driving and texting. The campaign will promote safe driving habits and increase the safety of drivers and passengers on Connecticut roadways. The campaign will be supported by a $32,500 grant from State Farm Insurance Companies."
“The Fairfield Police Explorers are tackling an extremely important issue that impacts the safety of all motorists on Connecticut roadways,” said State Farm Agent Steve Boyle. “We're proud to support this organization and applaud the work they do keeping our communities safe. We hope our assistance will have a positive impact on all the work they're doing in the Fairfield area.”
"The Fairfield Police Explorers will implement an extensive media campaign promoting U TXT UR NXT. Drivers will be asked to take sign a petition and take a safe driving/texting pledge. Red thumb bands will be given to drivers to help remind them about the dangers of distracted driving and texting. The media portion of the campaign is expected to begin sometime in 2012, while the Fairfield Police Explorers have already collected close to 1000 safe driving pledges."
Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/UTxtUrNxt
“The Fairfield Police Explorers are tackling an extremely important issue that impacts the safety of all motorists on Connecticut roadways,” said State Farm Agent Steve Boyle. “We're proud to support this organization and applaud the work they do keeping our communities safe. We hope our assistance will have a positive impact on all the work they're doing in the Fairfield area.”
"The Fairfield Police Explorers will implement an extensive media campaign promoting U TXT UR NXT. Drivers will be asked to take sign a petition and take a safe driving/texting pledge. Red thumb bands will be given to drivers to help remind them about the dangers of distracted driving and texting. The media portion of the campaign is expected to begin sometime in 2012, while the Fairfield Police Explorers have already collected close to 1000 safe driving pledges."
Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/UTxtUrNxt
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Our Bond
We have been committed in this campaign to help motorists to understand the dangers presented by distracted driving and texting. The campaign will promote safe driving habits and increase the safety of drivers and passengers on Connecticut roadways.
The Pledge...
What is Distracted Driving?
There are three main types of distraction:
-Visual--taking your eyes off the road
-Manual--taking your hands off the wheel
-Cognitive--taking your mind off what you're doing
Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk if crashing.
While all distractions can endanger driver's safety, texting is the most alarming because it involves all three types of distraction.
Facts on Distracted Driving
Research on distracted driving reveals some surprising facts: (NHTSA)
-20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA).
-Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashes, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (18% of fatalities in distraction- related crashes.(NHTSA)
-In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicles for being distracted.
-The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted driver was the under-20 age group
-16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving. (NHTSA)
-Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: IIHS)
-Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it's hand-held, or hands-free, delays a driver's reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)
There are three main types of distraction:
-Visual--taking your eyes off the road
-Manual--taking your hands off the wheel
-Cognitive--taking your mind off what you're doing
Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk if crashing.
While all distractions can endanger driver's safety, texting is the most alarming because it involves all three types of distraction.
Facts on Distracted Driving
Research on distracted driving reveals some surprising facts: (NHTSA)
-20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA).
-Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashes, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (18% of fatalities in distraction- related crashes.(NHTSA)
-In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicles for being distracted.
-The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted driver was the under-20 age group
-16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving. (NHTSA)
-Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: IIHS)
-Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it's hand-held, or hands-free, delays a driver's reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)
Additional Resources
Go to www.betterteendriving.com for more information on distracted teen driving, parents guide to teen driving and the CT Graduated Driving Laws
Go to www.AgentSteveBoyle.com to view State Farm's 'Steer Clear' video.
Or, go to www.NHTSA.gov or www.distraction.gov.
You can download the pledge form using the icon below, and forward all submission's to fairfield_police_explorers@yahoo.com, or drop the form off at the Fairfield Police Department, thanks everyone.
| U TXT UR NXT.pdf |
Read More....
Fairfield Patch - http://fairfield.patch.com/articles/u-text-ur-next
CT Post - http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/U-TXT-UR-NEXT-Fairfield-Police-Explorers-warn-2652426.php
Fairfield Citizen - http://www.fairfieldcitizenonline.com/default/article/U-TXT-UR-NEXT-Fairfield-Police-Explorers-warn-2603049.php