When we moved from Maryland to Virginia we noticed many distinctions between the two states. One of the scariest differences we saw immediately was that it felt like everyone in Virginia was on their phone WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING! Yes, I am shouting here. People think it is ok to text, play candy crush, or scroll through Facebook while they are driving. It scares the **** out of me! My kids look out through the car windows pointing out to me on the highway all the distracted drivers. Something must be done. For reference, it is against the law to use your phone in Maryland and DC, you cannot even have your phone in your hand or you can get a citation.
Kirk Cousins launched the Phones Down Touchdown safe driving campaign
Kirk Cousins, the starting quarterback of the Washington Redskins, kicked off a new campaign with Transurban, the 95 and 495 Express Lanes, VDOT, AAA, the Virginia State Police, and the Fairfax County Police. The hashtag for this campaign is “Phones Down. Touchdown.” This simple phrase can possibly save your life. If everyone driving would commit to putting away their phones and concentrate on driving we would all be much safer. Kirk said it best, “No text or phone call is worth risking your life or the life of others.” Whatever is happening on your phone can wait. Kirk also shared with us, “I’ve made a career out of playing offense, but when I’m behind the wheel I drive defensively.” We all want to feel safer behind the wheel. Safety begins with putting your phone away.
Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents, with cell phone use a number one reason for distraction. Fairfax County Commanders Captain Jim De Ford and Captain Bob Blakley both shared some sobering statistics. In 2016 there have been more than 35,000 accidents in Fairfax County and 30 % of these crashes were attributed to cell phone usage. Younger drivers are more likely to use their phones while driving and campaign organizers hope that Kirk Cousins can appeal to the youngest age demographic. Kirk encouraged all of us, “If you see a friend or family member using their phone while driving, speak up.” We all need to work together to eradicate the problem of distracted driving. If you look down and send one quick text while driving 55 MPH it is just like you drove blindfolded across an entire football field without looking at the road.
More than 2.5 million accidents occur each year, and 1.6 million of these accidents are because of cell phones. Distracted driving is attributable to more than 5,000 deaths each year. This number could easily be lowered if everyone took the Phone Down Touchdown pledge. Don’t delay, take the pledge today. Promise to put your phone down every time that you drive and you will be helping to keep our roads safer. Everyone who takes this pledge online will be entered to win a month of free travel on the 95 and 495 Express Lanes. One winner will be selected every week in December and January. Let’s all work together to keep focused on the roads during the busier holiday months.
This post was sponsored by Transurban. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
I think this is a great idea. Roads are dangerous. Even when everyone drives the way they should, accidents can and do happen. I think the more we can promote road safety, the better.
Road safety is a huge concern! Encouraging everyone to put their phones down and pay attention to the roads is a great campaign.
I have a daughter who will soon be learning to drive, and unsafe roads are one of my top fears. I wish everyone would be more aware when they drive!
It is so scary having to send our children out driving with all the distractions! I hope everyone can pledge to put their phones away and keep our roads safer.
Road safety is very important to all of us. We must be aware and follow all the safety tips.
We all must try harder to be safer behind the wheel!
What a great infographic. Texting while driving is very dangerous. This is such a great campaign to raise awareness.
Texting while driving is so dangerous and yes I see people do it all the time! Something needs to improve.
This is a great idea. It is important to be aware about the road safety.
We all need to do our part to keep the roads safe. Each of us needs to put the phone down and stop texting while driving.
Anything to help keep distracted drivers off the road is great! Hopefully it helps!
I agree with you! We need to do more to keep our roads safer.
This is SUCH a great idea! I love the idea of doing everything possible to keep the roads safer. It’s so important and definitely not something that is talked about enough.
I agree with you~ Our roads are unsafe right now. We need to all be accountable and put our phones away while driving.
This is a great idea. I try hard not to look at my phone while I am driving. I am guilty sometimes though.
Try to think about the fact that sending one text is equal to driving blindfolded across a football field! Maybe next time you will think twice before sending the text!
There are so many terrible accidents, it’s great that people are beginning to address this problem.
We really do need to address this problem so that our streets can stay safer!
Love how happy and excited your daughter looks. It’s crazy how much people are willing to risk their lives. No text or call is worth it.
Debra, she was so excited to take a picture with the Redskins quarterback. She stuck herself right in there and smiled!
So great to meet you and your family especially at the launch of such an important safety initiative. Look forward to staying in touch!
It was so great to meet you too Deborah! I hope to see you again soon!
Ooooo how great is this?!?! Safety while
Driving is so important. Even if you’re the best driver ever, that doesn’t mean the other people on the road are!
Safety while driving is important to all of us. Something must be done to keep our roads safer.
great post to spread awareness… it’s shocking to see that people STILL take the risk of messing with their cells while driving, or other distracting things as well… we need to take a step back and decide what’s more important ‘peoples lives or our fidgeting for something that can wait!’
Right? This is so true! So many people are not doing this though. We need to concentrate on just driving when we are in the car. I wish more people would do this, then we would be safer on the roads.
Great initiative here. I am actually getting to the point where I hate talking on the phone at all. Thanks for sharing. ^yolonda
I am happy to hear you will not be talking on the phone while driving. Now the rest of the people need to be as smart as you!
We for sure have a texting problem! I am guilty sometimes too. I know how dangerous it is, and still sometimes I check quickly.
It is time to put an end to phone usage while driving. We all need to be safer and make our roads as safe as possible. That can only be done if phones are put away.
I think this is such an important campaign! I see way too many accidents caused by texting or phone usage!
This is a really important campaign, and I wish everyone would stop texting while driving! We need to make the roads safer!
This is such a problem everywhere. I always drive past people who are driving very badly, and 99% of the time they have a phone in their face. This is one thing I stress for my kids — don’t touch it when driving.
It is crazy, right? I am horrified when I see what people are doing while driving their cars. Can’t we just concentrate on the one thing, driving?
I don’t text and drive. I don’t even answer my phone while I am driving. Love this campaign and that infographic.
Thank you for helping our roads to stay safer! This is so important, please help spread the word!
What a great campaign this is especially for teen drivrs who are pretty much into their gadgets even when driving.
Teen populations are most likely to be on their phones. We need to reach them and get them to drive safer!
He was a great guy here at Michigan State, looks like nothing has changed. Good job on him using his voice to boost a great cause.
You are a Kirk Cousins fan from long ago! He is doing a great job here in Washington DC trying to help make our roads safer.
I love seeing people who are more in the spotlight get involved in things that are really worthwhile. Being a part of the community that is supporting your career is such a good thing! I wish more athletes would take this stance.
I totally agree! The sports figures do not realize what an impact they have on the younger kids. I hope that this will have a positive impact and there will be less distracted driving.
Safety on the road is so very important. The fact that there are so many people still losing their lives because of people texting or talking while driving is horrible!
I totally agree with you! We all need to take a stand and stop texting while driving!