NTTA Joins "iPromise not 2 txt & drive" Campaign

As part of the NTTA’s ongoing Safe-T Buzz campaign, the NTTA is sponsoring the “iPromise not 2 txt & drive” campaign created by the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council (NCTTRAC). The campaign is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving and to prevent texting-related accidents.

"The NTTA is committed to enhancing safety on its roadways, and our staff is pursuing every solution to enhance safety,” said NTTA Assistant Executive Director of Operations Clayton Howe, who presented the NTTA’s $10,000 sponsorship check to NCTTRAC.  “Texting is a dangerous distraction to drivers, and we are asking everyone who uses our roadways to join us in our commitment to safety by pledging to stay focused on the road while driving. The NTTA wants all drivers to arrive safely at their destinations.”

A Car and Driver magazine study published in June 2009 showed that an alert driver takes approximately half a second to react after seeing a light turn red. Reaction times sometimes more than doubled while reading or typing a text message. On a straight course with no obstacles, the reading and texting drivers traveling at highway speeds took up to 70 more feet to bring the car to a stop than alert drivers.

The year-round “iPromise not 2 txt & drive” campaign asks drivers to promise to a close friend or loved one that they won’t text and drive. The friends or loved ones are then asked to make the same promise. NCTTRAC will encourage thousands of people to sign the pledges on Oct. 1.

For more information about the campaign, visit www.ncttrac.org.