Distracted Driving Campaign Aims to Stop Texting Behind the Wheel
“Better left unread than dead.” The message can’t get more frank than that. Hopefully, people who have a habit of checking their texts while driving will take note.
U-Haul charitable partner Project Yellow Light recently named its 2016 scholarship winners for the college and high school video contests, as well as the newly implemented billboard contests.
Emily McDonald’s winning billboard is displayed in Times Square above a line of Project Yellow Light sponsors and supporters, including U-Haul marketing company president Jeff Sonberg.
Emily McDonald’s billboard with the aforementioned slogan won for the high school category. Bethany Wheeler’s chalkboard-style display with the phrase “I will not text and drive” copied four times in a write-off formation captured first place in the college division.
The Brothers Senser claimed top honors for the video awards. Sam Senser’s video in the college category highlighted the difference in driver cost between using a phone in 1987 – stopping at a gas station and dropping 25 cents in a payphone – and today, when texting on a cell phone leads to drivers triggering accidents and costing lives.
See the winning college video here: https://youtu.be/CvetZKxcq9Q.
Wrenn Senser’s winning video in the high school division humorously emphasized the inability of humans to utilize their eyes like chameleons, which can move their eyes independently to see different directions at the same time.
See the winning high school video here: https://youtu.be/tT415epIpY8.
“U-Haul congratulates the winners and thanks all the students who sunk their time and creative talents into this year’s competition,” U-Haul Executive Vice President Stuart Shoen said. “Your ability to reach and influence fellow young people on this topic is pivotal to your generation and those to come.
The Senser brothers, Sam (left) and Wrenn, are winners of the PYL 2016 video competitions.
“This is a life-saving message, that no text or call is important enough to take your eyes off the road. It is a message championed by U-Haul as we work to keep our customers, Team Members and everyone else on the roads safer.”
The winning videos and billboards were displayed June 8 in Times Square. Jeff Sonberg, U-Haul Company of Manhattan Bronx president, attended the event. For the complete press release on the event, visit: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7854051-ad-council-project-yellow-light-winners/. To learn more about PYL, visit projectyellowlight.com.
U-Haul partnered with PYL in February 2015 and renewed its partnership this year in support of the annual Hunter Garner Scholarship. U-Haul is once again donating $16,000 to the scholarship winners and maintains a presence on the panel of contest judges.
“I think U-Haul is an amazing company with great values and principles,” PYL founder Julie Garner said in a previous statement. “It’s not just what they have done for Project Yellow Light that makes me so appreciative, but for all of its other charity work and sponsorships. They are helping make a difference all across the nation.”
According to Distraction.gov, at any given daylight moment in America, some 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving. In 2014, 3,179 people were killed and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. Young people account for the largest segment of distracted drivers in accidents.
Did you know U-Haul offers a free online distracted driving course? Take the course by clicking on http://myuhaulstory.com/distracted-driving.
