In an effort to increase awareness around the the dangers of of Texting while driving, some Iowa law enforcement officers are handing out thumb bands that read “TXTING KILLS“. The bands are part of a statewide campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of texting while driving under a new law prohibiting the practice that took effect July 1.
Police are permitted to give warnings for the first year of the Texting while driving ban and hope that the TXTING KILLS thumb bans will catch on with the current fad of rubberized bracelets reminding Texters that they shouldn’t be texting while driving.
The state ordered 30,000 of the bands and plans to order another 30,000. State employees have been distributing them at events such as the Iowa State Fair, high-school football games and the Iowa-Iowa State college football game.
“A lot of people want them for their kids,” Ms. Greene said. “It’s a fun way to get across a serious message about not texting and driving.”
[Via WSJ]
I think this effort will help drivers get the message. It has to start with the end user, the driver…deciding not to partake in distracted driving and this will help drive that message home.
I also decided to do something about teen (and adult) texting and driving after my three year old daughter was nearly run down right in front of me by a texting driver. Instead of a shackle that locks down phones and alienates the user (especially teens) I built a tool for teens and their parents called OTTER that is a simple, affordable app for smartphones.. I think if we can empower the individual then change will come to our highways now and not just our laws.
Erik Wood, owner
OTTER LLC
OTTER app (released today on Blackberry too!)