DOT, State Farm join ESPN "On the Road to Camp" with Stop Distracted Driving safety message

How do you visit 32 pro football training camps in 19 days? If you're ESPN Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter, you take the bus. In this case, two buses, and each of these twin tour buses sports the "Stop Distracted Driving" message, courtesy of DOT and State Farm.

Mort and Adam will cross the nation--Mort in the West and Adam in the East--touring all 32 training camps and helping spread the important safety message that, before you pick up the keys, you should put that mobile device down.

The tour began on July 29 in Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And, as ESPN's popular on-air personalities log over 15,000 combined miles by August 16, they'll be broadcasting updates and publishing all sorts of interactive content on the web.

More important to me is that Mort and Adam use their influence to let players and fans at camp know that texting or talking on the phone while driving is a dangerous and deadly epidemic. By reminding all drivers to "Put it Down," we can help prevent thousands of deaths and injuries and keep our roads safe.

ESPN Customer Marketing President Ed Erhardt agrees: "This tour is uniquely positioned to reach football fans across the league, and provides the perfect setting to raise awareness of the serious dangers of distracted driving."

You know, like many people, I'm excited about the approach of football season, and it's great to join forces with ESPN. But this is serious business. Whether you're a 350-pound lineman or a 17-year old with a freshly laminated driver's license, it only takes two seconds of distraction to double your crash risk.

Distracted driving poses a serious threat to road safety. Partnering with ESPN for the "On the Road to Camp" tour is simply a sensible way to combat that threat.

So, if you meet Mort or Adam at the training camp of your favorite team or you're commenting on one of their blogs, please let them know you appreciate not only the insider reporting they're doing this summer, but also the important safety message they're carrying.

Comments

[Karen B. Jones]

Wonderful! There are so many unavoidable distractions in the car already, why add a mobile device as well? Put it down when you're driving the car.

[Michael E. Bailey]

This is a crucial safety message. And hopefully, Adam and Mort will be only the first 2 celebraties of many who will pick the message up for their tour or band buses. This is great. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.