Join high schoolers around the state on Sept. 19 in taking the 'It Can Wait' pledge not to text while driving

In preparation for its national day of action, the "It Can Wait" campaign teamed up with state legislators in four schools across Kentucky to increase awareness about the risks of texting while driving. Become an advocate too by taking the pledge not to text and drive on Sept 19. 

State Rep. Rick Nelson of Middlesboro, Sen. Brandon Smith of Hazard and AT&T partnered to provide a simulation for students at Bell County High School to learn about dangers of texting while driving. The simulator subjected the participants to a variety of real-life traffic conditions, like driving alongside a bus, showcasing the real-life dangers of texting.

“As a father to teenagers with driver’s licenses, I am personally devoted to spreading awareness of the dangers of texting while driving, Smith told the Middlesboro Daily News. “Drivers who send text messages while driving are 23 times more likely to be in a crash, so it is critical to spread the word that when it comes to texting and driving — it can wait.”

The tour, which is also sponsored by Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile, also stopped in Central Kentucky, where about 200 Scott County High School students participated in the simulation, along with Rep. Ryan Quarles and Sen. Damon Thayer, both of Georgetown. Quarles crashed and Thayer was stopped for driving too slow in the “busy thoroughfare,” reports Dan Adkins of the Kentucky Press News Service. Click here to try the simulator.

The “No Texting While Driving” law has been in place in Kentucky for two years and forbids anyone to send text messages while driving a motor vehicle. The law also forbids any use of a cell phone for driving under 18.

Take the pledge not to text and drive by joining the "It Can Wait" campaign. Click here for more information. You can also download the AT&T DriveMode app that automatically sends a customizable reply to incoming messages to let people know that you'll get back to them at another time.

Univ. of Pikeville students hear of horrors of texting while driving, actively sign pledge to stop the practice

Alyson Gibson, a student at the
University of Pikeville, signs the 'No
Text on Board' pledge.

Maybe it was a surprise to some in the crowd but texting and driving has been illegal in Kentucky since April 15, 2010. Still, the folks at the University of Pikeville thought it was a message that bore repeating. On Thursday, they did so.  In recognition of the national “No Text on Board” effort, UPike professors, state legislators and AT&T representatives asked students to pledge to just not do it. The pledge was intended to be a lifetime choice. The only exception to the law is if drivers need to report illegal activity or need to summons medical or emergency aid. Fines for texting while driving in the state can be up to $50, plus court costs.

Students could watch a video of the aftermath of accidents where drivers had been preoccupied with texting. According to the AT&T rep on campus Thursday, someone is killed or injured in this country every five minutes in an accident where texting and driving is involved. (Read more)

'One Text or Call Could Wreck It All' traffic safety campaign being promoted this month

A new traffic campaign with the slogan of "One Text or Call Could Wreck It All" is being sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this month.

April has been designated Distract Driving Awareness Month, with Kentucky law-enforcement agencies committed to spreading the word. In 2009, nearly 5,500 people were killed and another half a million people were hurt in accidents caused by distracted driving, according to national safety administration figures.

The national effort "focuses on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness and education — the same activities that have curbed drunken driving and increased seat belt use," The Courier-Journal reports.

Officials said they want to reach teen drivers especially with the effort, since that group has the highest proportion of distracted drivers who were involved in fatal crashes. (Read more)