Dallas, U.S.A. — Texting and driving has become a national epidemic that causes 11 teen deaths every day in the United States.  This deadly problem has inspired the launch of a new No Text and Drive campaign, sponsored by The Time Group, which kicked off on December 12, a national public service announcement video featuring Nashville Recording Artist, Rachel Holder.

Holder, a Nashville up-and-comer who has enjoyed recent success with her song, “In Your Arms”, has joined the Dallas-based marketing company to help create awareness surrounding the dangers of texting and driving.  The video release along with Rachel’s free mobile app features more information and an opportunity for users to receive a free No Text and Drive thumb band when they download the app on their smartphone.

“Statistics prove that you are 23 times more likely to crash if you text and drive. Our hope is to create awareness and cause teens to think twice before texting and driving. If this campaign saves just one life, then it will be a success,” said Margaret McKoin, President of The Time Group. Rachel Holder added, “I am proud to be an advocate for safe driving. We encourage teens to wear the thumb bands as a simple reminder to make them think before they text and drive because no text is worth a human life.”

The Time Group, a full service marketing company with over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications and nonprofit industries, provides consultation and advocacy for charitable organizations. The No Text and Drive campaign will continue through 2015 and will feature various celebrities, professional athletes, and military heroes all helping to spread the word to stop this deadly epidemic.

For more information and to receive a free No Text and Drive thumb band, download Rachel Holder’s free mobile app on your smartphone or visit www.rachelholder.com.

Along with the launch of Rachel’s PSA video this month, she will also be performing the national anthem at the upcoming NFL Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints game on December 23. Her new release with Curb Records is scheduled for early 2013.

Image Courtesy : Rachel Holder

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Pennsylvania’s new law prohibiting text-based communication while driving will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on March 8, making texting while driving a primary offense carrying a $50 fine.

“Your most important job when behind the wheel is to focus only on driving. Most people would never close their eyes for five seconds while driving, but that’s how long you take your eyes of the road, or even longer, every time you send or read a text message,” PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said. “It’s not just your own life you’re risking; it’s the lives and safety of every motorist around you.”

The new law specifically does the following:

• Makes it a primary offense to use an Interactive Wireless Communication Device (IWCD) to send, read or write a text-based message.
• Defines an IWCD as a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, smartphone, portable or mobile computer or similar devices that can be used for texting, instant messaging, emailing or browsing the Internet.
• Defines a text-based message as a text message, instant message, email or other written communication composed or received on an IWCD.
• Institutes a $50 fine for convictions.
• Makes clear that this law supersedes and preempts any local ordinances restricting the use of interactive wireless devices by drivers.

“This is a serious problem and we are hoping that we can educate citizens on the dangers of texting while driving and prevent future accidents,” said State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan. “Our troopers will attempt to use observations of the driver while the vehicle is in motion to determine if traffic stops are warranted. An example might be the motorist continues to manipulate the device over an extended distance with no apparent voice communication.

“Ultimately, we hope that our enforcement efforts will create voluntary compliance by the majority of motorists,” Noonan said.

In 2010, there were nearly 14,000 crashes in Pennsylvania where distracted driving played a role, with 68 people dying in those crashes.

Learn more online at www.dot.state.pa.us and choose “Anti-Texting Law.”

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New research from State Farm is showing that while texting while driving remains a concern on the nation’s highways, drivers are accessing other mobile web-services at much higher rates. These behaviors may pose equal or greater concerns in the battle against distracted driving.

In a new survey of nearly 900 motorists, the company found that use of mobile web-services has increased dramatically over the last two years.

For drivers 18-29:

• Accessing the internet on a cell phone while driving increased from 29 percent in 2009 to 43 percent in 2011.
• Reading social media networks while driving increased from 21 percent in 2009 to 37 percent in 2011.
• Updating social networks while driving increased from 20 percent in 2009 to 33 percent in 2011.

“Calls from the NTSB and others to ban cell phones are focusing now on both texting and web use while driving. The mobile web is a growing issue for safety advocates concerned about distractions while driving,” said David Beigie, State Farm Public Affairs Vice President. “Additionally, while the focus has been on young people, the data also indicates that motorists of all ages are increasing their use of the mobile web while driving.”

For all drivers, the data showed:

• Accessing the internet while on a cell phone increased from 13 percent in 2009 to 18 percent in 2011.
• Reading social media networks while driving increased from 9 percent in 2009 to 14 percent in 2011.
• Updating social networks while driving increased from 9 percent in 2009 to 13 percent in 2011.

Ironically, the study showed that use of texting while driving was remaining flat or decreasing in some instances:

• For drivers 18-29, 71 percent said they engaged in texting while driving in 2009. That number dropped to 64 percent in 2011.
• For all drivers, this number stayed relatively flat, coming in at 31 percent in 2009 compared to 32 percent in 2011.

About the survey

In August 2009 and 2010, and in July 2011, State Farm’s Strategic Resources Department used an outside panel vendor to conduct an online survey of U.S. consumers ages 18+. Survey responses were received from consumers who identified themselves as having some insurance and financial responsibility for their household. Only responses from consumers who had a valid driver’s license, owned a cell phone, and reported driving between 1 and 80 hours per week were used when reporting the findings of behavior-based questions. Driving was defined as any time the car was en route to a destination, including being stopped in traffic or at a stoplight.

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