Flickr user Lisa Padilla
Update 2/3/12: Yesterday, February 2, 2012, Socastee High School held a "W8 2 TXT" kick-off event.
Students heard from 20-year-old Ashley Marriah a texting while driving crash victim. Subway restaurant and Highway Patrol representatives spoke as well. Students also signed the "I will wait to text" pledge after the assembly. You can learn more about Ashley by watching the video embedded below.
The Sun News has photos of the event at Socastee High School and WMBF News has a write-up and video.
First Report 2/2/12: The South Carolina Highway Patrol and Subway restaurants are teaming up for the "W8 2 TXT" initiative.
"W8 2 TXT" is a pledge for South Carolina teens that they won't risk their lives and the lives of others while driving and texting. As an incentive, the school with the highest percentage of students participating will win SUBWAY subs for their entire school.
According to the W8 2 TXT website:
Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teen drivers. That's why local SUBWAY restaurants have joined with the state highway patrol to urge young drivers to wait to send text messages - or W8 2 TXT - when they are not behind the wheel. According to a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Study, drivers who send text messages while driving are 23 times more likely to crash. The W8 2 TXT Campaign begins at the start of the 2012 New Year and will conclude in April, during National Distracted Driver Awareness Month.
From WSPA Channel 7 out of Greenville, SC
The W8 2 TXT website also has some ways to get involved:
- Pick up a FREE glow-in-the-dark W8 2 TXT wrist band - A reminder to not text and drive, the wrist bands are available at no charge at participating Subway restaurants, while supplies last.
- Take the W8 2 TXT Pledge - State highway patrol will conduct safe driving programs and distribute W8 2 TXT Pledge Cards. To request a safety training presentation, email contactus@W82TXTPLEDGE.com.
- Enter the W8 2 TXT High School Challenge - Students can sign a virtual Pledge Wall and be counted in a high school challenge to see which school has the highest student participation. The winning high school will receive free Subway subs for the entire school. See "Official Rules" for details.
- W8 2 TXT Wednesdays - At select Subway restaurants during the campaign period (January through April 2012), state highway patrol officers will host free community events offering driver safety information, wrist bands and sub sandwiches.
Teens can take the pledge by clicking here. Below is W8 2 TXT's PSA and if you would like to see a pretty gruesome Anti-Texting and Driving PSA that shows what could happen then click here.
