SAFE ROADS ALLIANCE LAUNCHES PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO BAN TEXTING WHILE DRIVING Campaign kicks off with event at City Hall Plaza on June 25, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.
BOSTON, MA (June 22, 2009) – Safe Roads Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to driver safety, is urging drivers to put down their cell phones when behind the wheel. The organization is running a public service campaign sponsored by Safety Insurance, a leading provider of property and casualty insurance in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, reminding drivers that Texting While Driving “may be the last thing they ever do.” The campaign will officially launch with a rally at City Hall Plaza on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.
“Texting While Driving is a serious hazard, as underscored by the recent news stories concerning serious and deadly accidents around Massachusetts. A recent study found that Texting While Driving doubles the risk of a crash ,” said Jeff Larson, president of Safe Roads Alliance. “Furthermore, cell phone-related crashes cost an estimated $43 billion annually . Safe Roads Alliance supports legislative action to curb this dangerous practice, and we are dedicated to helping the public become aware of these risks.”
Currently, there are 15 proposed bills in Massachusetts that would impose bans on texting or limit the use of cell phones while driving.
Boston Police Superintendent Daniel Linskey stated, “Driving while using a wireless device can be a life-threatening public safety issue. It’s the number one source of driver inattention. Studies have shown that distraction from cell phone use causes drivers to have the same reaction time as someone operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent – the legal limit here in Massachusetts.” Linskey added, “Even the most cautious drivers can become a danger on our road ways. Motorists using wireless devices are more likely to get into crashes. Those crashes oftentimes result in serious injuries, and in some cases can be fatal.”
“One in seven drivers, and half of all drivers between the ages of 18 and 24, admits to Texting While Driving ,” said George Murphy, vice president of marketing for Safety Insurance. “Even a brief distraction can cause a crash, and Safety Insurance is proud to be involved with such an important effort to make our roads safer.”
Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety Kevin Burke, Senator Steven Baddour and Mayor Thomas Menino have been asked to speak at Thursday’s rally. Also invited are Representatives Joseph Wagner, Katherine Clark and Peter Koutoujian, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Transportation, Boston Transportation Commissioner Thomas Tinlin and local police.
Nashua, NH-based GN Netcom is donating headsets and speakerphones at the event. GN Netcom will give away 150 Jabra headsets to attendees at the rally. Mayor Menino and the other speakers will also receive wireless headsets, while SP700 speakerphones will be given to In Control Advanced Driver Training, which will be demonstrating how Texting While Driving impairs drivers.
The Texting While Driving campaign will be communicated through ads on billboards throughout eastern Massachusetts and at bus stops around the City of Boston. To learn more about this campaign, please visit: http://www.SafeRoadsAlliance.org.
About Safe Roads Alliance
Safe Roads Alliance was formed in 2006 as a not-for-profit Massachusetts organization dedicated to promoting safer driving. Through its High School Outreach Program, Safe Roads offers free presentations to students and parent groups by professional drivers and others on emergency driving skills. Safe Roads also provides educational services to other groups on different aspects of driving safety, including: issues confronting elderly drivers, maintaining a vehicle for safe operation, child restraint systems, seat belt usage, reducing driving distractions, and driver courtesy and reduction of road-rage. Safe Roads is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization whose programs are made possible by the generosity of sponsors and donors. For more information about Safe Roads Alliance, please visit: http://www.SafeRoadsAlliance.org.
About Safety Insurance
Safety Insurance was founded in 1979 with a belief that it would succeed as a company if customers were given the best possible service. A leading provider of property and casualty insurance in Massachusetts, Safety Insurance is the second largest writer of private passenger automobile, and the third largest writer of commercial automobile insurance in Massachusetts. Safety Insurance offers a portfolio of other personal line insurance products, including, homeowners, dwelling fire, and personal umbrella. In addition, Safety Insurance also offers commercial lines insurance products including, business owner policies, commercial package policies, and commercial umbrellas. Sold exclusively through a network of professional independent agents, Safety Insurance provides agents with state-of-the-art tools that make it easy to service and protect their customers. Safety Insurance has consistently received an \”A\” rating from A.M. Best. Please visit our website at: http://www.SafetyInsurance.com.
About GN Netcom
Through its Jabra brand, GN Netcom is a world leader in innovative headset solutions. With sales offices around the world, GN Netcom develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of wireless headsets for mobile users and both wireless and corded headsets for contact center and office-based users. GN Netcom’s business activities also include its original equipment manufacturing (OEM) business. GN Netcom has been helping people communicate since 1869 and is a listed company on OMX Nordic Exchange. For further information, please visit http://www.jabra.com.
For more information, contact:
Sarah Gerrol, Director
Morrissey & Company
617-523-4141
sarah@morrisseyco.com
Jeff Larson, President
Safe Roads Alliance
Phone: 617-588-3703
Email: Jeff@SafeRoadsAlliance.org
Website: http://www.SafeRoadsAlliance.org
Media Alert
SAFE ROADS ALLIANCE LAUNCHES PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO BAN TEXTING WHILE DRIVING Campaign kicks off with event at City Hall Plaza on June 25, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.
BOSTON, MA (June 22, 2009) – Safe Roads Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to driver safety, is urging drivers to put down their cell phones when behind the wheel. The organization is running a public service campaign sponsored by Safety Insurance, a leading provider of property and casualty insurance in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, reminding drivers that Texting While Driving “may be the last thing they ever do.” The campaign will officially launch with a rally at City Hall Plaza on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.
“Texting While Driving is a serious hazard, as underscored by the recent news stories concerning serious and deadly accidents around Massachusetts. A recent study found that Texting While Driving doubles the risk of a crash ,” said Jeff Larson, president of Safe Roads Alliance. “Furthermore, cell phone-related crashes cost an estimated $43 billion annually . Safe Roads Alliance supports legislative action to curb this dangerous practice, and we are dedicated to helping the public become aware of these risks.”
Currently, there are 15 proposed bills in Massachusetts that would impose bans on texting or limit the use of cell phones while driving.
Boston Police Superintendent Daniel Linskey stated, “Driving while using a wireless device can be a life-threatening public safety issue. It’s the number one source of driver inattention. Studies have shown that distraction from cell phone use causes drivers to have the same reaction time as someone operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent – the legal limit here in Massachusetts.” Linskey added, “Even the most cautious drivers can become a danger on our road ways. Motorists using wireless devices are more likely to get into crashes. Those crashes oftentimes result in serious injuries, and in some cases can be fatal.”
“One in seven drivers, and half of all drivers between the ages of 18 and 24, admits to Texting While Driving ,” said George Murphy, vice president of marketing for Safety Insurance. “Even a brief distraction can cause a crash, and Safety Insurance is proud to be involved with such an important effort to make our roads safer.”
Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety Kevin Burke, Senator Steven Baddour and Mayor Thomas Menino have been asked to speak at Thursday’s rally. Also invited are Representatives Joseph Wagner, Katherine Clark and Peter Koutoujian, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Transportation, Boston Transportation Commissioner Thomas Tinlin and local police.
Nashua, NH-based GN Netcom is donating headsets and speakerphones at the event. GN Netcom will give away 150 Jabra headsets to attendees at the rally. Mayor Menino and the other speakers will also receive wireless headsets, while SP700 speakerphones will be given to In Control Advanced Driver Training, which will be demonstrating how Texting While Driving impairs drivers.
The Texting While Driving campaign will be communicated through ads on billboards throughout eastern Massachusetts and at bus stops around the City of Boston. To learn more about this campaign, please visit: http://www.SafeRoadsAlliance.org.
About Safe Roads Alliance
Safe Roads Alliance was formed in 2006 as a not-for-profit Massachusetts organization dedicated to promoting safer driving. Through its High School Outreach Program, Safe Roads offers free presentations to students and parent groups by professional drivers and others on emergency driving skills. Safe Roads also provides educational services to other groups on different aspects of driving safety, including: issues confronting elderly drivers, maintaining a vehicle for safe operation, child restraint systems, seat belt usage, reducing driving distractions, and driver courtesy and reduction of road-rage. Safe Roads is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization whose programs are made possible by the generosity of sponsors and donors. For more information about Safe Roads Alliance, please visit: http://www.SafeRoadsAlliance.org.
About Safety Insurance
Safety Insurance was founded in 1979 with a belief that it would succeed as a company if customers were given the best possible service. A leading provider of property and casualty insurance in Massachusetts, Safety Insurance is the second largest writer of private passenger automobile, and the third largest writer of commercial automobile insurance in Massachusetts. Safety Insurance offers a portfolio of other personal line insurance products, including, homeowners, dwelling fire, and personal umbrella. In addition, Safety Insurance also offers commercial lines insurance products including, business owner policies, commercial package policies, and commercial umbrellas. Sold exclusively through a network of professional independent agents, Safety Insurance provides agents with state-of-the-art tools that make it easy to service and protect their customers. Safety Insurance has consistently received an \”A\” rating from A.M. Best. Please visit our website at: http://www.SafetyInsurance.com.
About GN Netcom
Through its Jabra brand, GN Netcom is a world leader in innovative headset solutions. With sales offices around the world, GN Netcom develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of wireless headsets for mobile users and both wireless and corded headsets for contact center and office-based users. GN Netcom’s business activities also include its original equipment manufacturing (OEM) business. GN Netcom has been helping people communicate since 1869 and is a listed company on OMX Nordic Exchange. For further information, please visit http://www.jabra.com.
For more information, contact:
Sarah Gerrol, Director
Morrissey & Company
617-523-4141
sarah@morrisseyco.com
Jeff Larson, President
Safe Roads Alliance
Phone: 617-588-3703
Email: Jeff@SafeRoadsAlliance.org
Website: http://www.SafeRoadsAlliance.org