Tuesday, April 13, 2010

UNCW students, faculty and staff are invited to attend a special event at 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 16 at the Campus Commons Amphitheater to help discourage mobile phone users from texting while driving. Join with community officials, educators and law enforcement representatives in pledging to refrain from texting and driving to avoid the deaths and life-altering injuries it can cause.

"Txtng and Drivng–It Can Wait" is a national effort to raise awareness about the risks of texting and driving, sponsored by AT&T. Drivers who text behind the wheel are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident or some type of safety-related event compared to those drivers who don't text while driving. The campaign features true stories and the text messages that were sent or received before someone's life was terribly altered, or even ended, because of texting and driving.

Prior to the event, students are being asked to sign a "Don't Text & Drive" pledge on a banner being displayed on campus or through electronic pledging via text messaging or on Facebook.

Banner Pledge Signings
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, Fisher Student Center
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 15, Fisher University Union
• 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 16 at the "Txtng and Drivng–It Can Wait" event

Electronic Pledging and Info
• Text "ItCanWait" to 90947 and receive a reply giving you the option to pledge by text or on Facebook; follow the provided instructions
• Text "TextTips" to 90947 and receive a reply message that provides texting safety tips

Students who take the pledge and provide their cell phone numbers will be entered in a drawing for prizes at the Friday event. Winners must be present to collect prizes, so plan to be there!

For more information about the "Txtng and Drivng—It Can Wait" campaign, including links to spots in the television campaign, click here.