{"id":3939,"date":"2017-06-08T10:00:55","date_gmt":"2017-06-08T10:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onemoresecond.net\/?p=3939"},"modified":"2017-06-08T10:00:55","modified_gmt":"2017-06-08T10:00:55","slug":"txdot-launches-talk-text-crash-campaign-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edriving.com\/three60\/txdot-launches-talk-text-crash-campaign-2\/","title":{"rendered":"TxDOT launches \u2018Talk, Text, Crash\u2019 campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the busy summer driving season approaches, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is urging motorists to avoid distractions and give driving their full attention.<\/p>\n

With 1 in 5 crashes in Texas caused by distracted driving, TxDOT is pushing its \u201cTalk, Text, Crash\u201d messaging across the state to encourage safe summer driving.<\/p>\n

Throughout the month of June, motorists can expect to see TV commercials, billboards and digital ads reminding them to give driving their full attention.<\/p>\n

Texas Mutual Insurance Company is partnering with TxDOT to host \u201cTalk, Text, Crash\u201d interactive events at shopping malls across Texas where drivers can see how distracted driving crashes have affected Texans statewide. Visitors also can try their hand at a distracted driving simulator.<\/p>\n

One Texan who knows the pain of every parent\u2019s worst nightmare is Stacey Riddle. On the way home from a spring break trip last year, her teenage daughters were killed when the car in which they were riding collided with an 18-wheeler. Brianna Robinson, 19, and Jade Robinson, 17, died when the car\u2019s driver lost control and veered into oncoming traffic while checking her phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI keep waiting for Brianna and Jade to walk through the front door, but I know they never will again,\u201d Stacey said. \u201cPeople are constantly on their cell phones. They don\u2019t consider that using their phones while driving can have tragic consequences and forever change their lives, the lives of their loved ones and the lives of people they don\u2019t even know.<\/p>\n

TxDOT Executive Director James Bass said: \u201cLast year, 455 people were killed and more than 3,000 were seriously injured in crashes due to driver distractions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese crashes are highest among young drivers, and we\u2019re grateful to parents like Stacey Riddle who are willing to share their stories in the hope of sparing other families the grief they\u2019ve endured. We ask all drivers to always keep their eyes and attention on the road, and avoid distractions of any kind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Safety experts warn that using a phone to make a call, text, check messages or perform other smartphone functions is particularly dangerous when behind the wheel. In 2016, there were 109,658 crashes in Texas related to distracted driving \u2014 up 3 percent over 2015. Research shows that holding a phone and even using a Bluetooth or other hands-free device is a distraction that can cause a crash.<\/p>\n

While cell phone use may be one of the most common driving distractions, any behavior that takes a driver\u2019s attention away from the road \u2014 including eating, reading, grooming, programming a GPS or adjusting the radio \u2014 is dangerous.<\/p>\n

TxDOT reminds drivers to:<\/p>\n