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Community Corner

Ring in the New Year with a Resolution to Not Text & Drive

By Melanie Ortel

It’s that time of year again. When we recall the resolutions we made so many months ago and once again give thought to how we can improve our lives. Get fit. Eat healthy. Reduce stress. This year, I encourage you to take the It Can Wait Pledge and stop texting while driving.

It’s easily achievable and a simple way to make a profound impact on your life and the lives of others. Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on America’s roadways. According to distraction.gov, you’re two times more likely to crash if you text while driving and in 2012 alone, 3,328 people were killed in distracted driving crashes.

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At 55 mph, 4.6 seconds pass when a driver’s eyes leave the road to text. That may seem harmless, but as distraction.gov points out, that’s like driving the length of a football field blindfolded.

A large percentage of teens and young adults drive while distracted, and an increasing number of adults also text and drive endangering themselves and others on the road while also setting a bad example for anyone observing from the backseat.

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Fortunately drivers can turn to technology to help maintain focus while on the road. Through innovative apps like Safely Go and DriveSafe.ly, your cell phone can automatically reply to texts and calls when you’re driving or read messages aloud, allowing you to respond verbally and without removing your hands from the wheel or taking your eyes off the road. 

For more than a decade, Verizon Wireless has supported legislation around the prevention of distracted driving and has been a leader in promoting responsible driving through the use of innovative, hands-free technology.

But safe driving starts with you. So as you create your list of resolutions this year, please consider taking the pledge to not text and drive.


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