Billboards spread message about new Pennsylvania texting ban

It's a pleasure to be able to remind readers that the new Pennsylvania law against texting while driving in the Keystone State took effect on March 8.

But, as the AAA clubs of Pennsylvania know, a law can only be effective when people know about it.  That's why, beginning this week, the organization is posting the message "DNT TXT N DRV—It's the Law" on approximately 60 billboards across Pennsylvania.

In its new campaign, AAA is not going it alone. Both Lamar Advertising and Clear Channel Outdoor are donating billboard space for this important safety message.

As AAA East Central's Brian Newbacher said, "Educating the public about the new law to ban texting while driving will help lead to greater compliance. There is remarkable public support for the new law and AAA is encouraging motorists to comply with it to save lives.” 

He's right about public support. In a recent survey of AAA members, 95 percent supported a law against texting while driving.

And why shouldn't they? We know that taking your hands off the wheel, your eyes of the road, and your mind off driving increases your chances of causing a crash.  Unfortunately, texting while driving requires you to do just that; it is a perfect storm of driver distraction.

As Pennsylvania State Trooper Robin Mungo observed, “Anytime we can reduce the number of distractions we have in a vehicle, it will reduce the number of crashes we have across our highways."

When the law passed last year, I thanked the safety advocates and legislators who helped make this happen and Governor Tom Corbett for signing the ban into law.  Today I want to thank the AAA clubs of Pennsylvania and their partners for this new campaign to help educate drivers to stop texting behind the wheel.

Comments

[Jim]

Don't billboards take peoples' eyes off the road? Irony.

[Pam Rajtik Founder President Parents Against Texting Teens]

My non profit also addresses the problem of texting and driving so I support the community visibilty of the billboards. I have a great billboard that is up in Franklin County PA that communicates the seriousness of texting and driving.

[Henna]

This is a bit odd.

We don't want people texting while driving, but reading billboards while driving is okay?

Okay, texting is a more involved activity, but don't we want to discourage all driving distractions?

[signs alexandria]

Maybe they should not utilize this as a billboard but instead this should be distributed as flyers. I agree, billboard reading is risky when driving.