Just in time for the busiest travel days of the year, the North Texas Tollway Authority has added 15 new partners, including the City of Arlington, to its Red Thumb safety program aimed at eliminating texting while driving. It's now against the law in Texas to send a text while driving, and these partners want drivers to know.
NTTA's Red Thumb campaign urges drivers to make some part of their thumbs red as a visual reminder to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road at all times. The authority's original 22 municipal, transportation and community partners have distributed more than 110,000 NTTA-branded Red Thumb bands bearing the reminder "W82TXT" (wait to text).
"Studies show that at any given moment, 660,000 drivers across America are texting and driving," said NTTA Assistant Executive Director of Infrastructure Elizabeth Mow. "NTTA and its partners are working to change that."
Driving distractions fall into three categories: visual (eyes off the road), manual (hands off the wheel) and cognitive (mind off the road). Texting while driving is especially dangerous as it combines all three bad behaviors.
NTTA urges all drivers to stay safe on the road during this holiday season.
Click here to learn more about NTTA's Red Thumb Campaign.
News, Police, Public Safety