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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE PRESS RELEASES BELOW, PLEASE CONTACT: |
Tom Crosby - (W) 704-569-7733 (H) 704-542-4550 (C) 704-649-9377 |
Brendan Byrnes - (W) 704-569-7768 (C) 919-270-7405 |
| Wednesday, September 10, 2008 |
CHARLOTTE (September 10, 2008) – AAA Carolinas today launched an ad campaign at more than 50 South Carolina gas stations to draw attention to the dangers of distracted driving, particularly the use of a cell phone while driving.
Driving while distracted can affect a driver’s perception, judgment and action, said Tom Crosby, president of the Carolina Motor Club Foundation for Traffic Safety.
“Using a cell phone while driving is very dangerous, as many motorists know from personal experience or from watching drivers using cell phones in nearby cars,” said Crosby. “Talking or texting on a cell phone distracts a driver, taking his attention off the road and putting him in danger of a crash.”
Eight out of 10 drivers rated distracted driving as a serious problem, but 53 percent of them admitted they had talked on their cell phone while driving in the past 30 days and 14 percent admitted they had read or sent a text message in the past 30 days, according to the 2008 AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index (http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/2008TSCIndexFinalReport.pdf).
“The graphic used in the ad campaign, posted on gas pumps at numerous stations across South Carolina, is designed to get your attention -- and make you think twice -- before using a cell phone when you are driving,” said Crosby. (http://aaacarolinas.com/media/releases/attachments/AAATrafficSafetyLo.pdf NOTE: There are two ads. High-resolution copies are available upon request.)
The distracted driving ads are on gas pumps in five counties: Greenville, Richland, Charleston, Horry and Beaufort, chosen based on an annual analysis done by AAA Carolinas identifying the most dangerous counties in the state for crashes and injuries, per vehicle mile driven.
Driver distraction and/or inattention – which includes using a cell phone while driving – is listed as a contributing factor to about one-third of all South Carolina crashes, resulting in fatalities, injuries or property damage, according to 2006 and 2007 crash statistics compiled by the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
Eight of 10 crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes occurred when drivers were distracted, primarily by wireless devices such as cell phones or Blackberries, according to a 2008 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (http://www.vtti.vt.edu/PDF/100-Car_Press-Release.pdf).
The ad campaign is likely to be viewed several million times, said Crosby who added that he hopes it “will prompt a change in motorist behavior.
“Using a cell phone while driving to either talk or text is a major distraction to a driver and can lead to deadly consequences,” said Crosby. “AAA Carolinas wants to alert motorists to the dangers and suggest safe options.”
AAA Carolinas’ tips for cell phone usage by motorists:
• Use a cell phone in a vehicle only when absolutely necessary. Any use of a cell phone while driving should be with a hands-free device.
• Do not take your hands off the wheel to either answer or initiate a cell phone call.
• Unexpected phone calls should go directly to voice mail. Pull off the road to check voice mail messages and return calls.
• Never use a cell phone to text a message while driving. Texting is one of the worst distractions because it requires both physical and mental attention, taking away attention from watching the road.
The Carolina Motor Club Foundation for Traffic Safety is a non-profit organization founded by AAA Carolinas and funded by AAA Carolinas’ member contributions that works to promote traffic safety initiatives in North and South Carolina.
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