Here's a new one in the world of distracted-driving safety campaigns: South Florida teens who proved themselves to be superstars of text messaging were awarded free tickets to a concert by "American Idol" star Jordin Sparks. One catch: They had to pledge to never text and drive. The idea for the unusual safety contest came from Stacy Kagan, an Allstate Insurance agent in Coral Springs. "We're trying to encourage teens to be aware that texting kills," Kagan told the Miami Herald. Allstate's "Thumbs Up to X the TXT" has been working its way across the nation since November. First-place … [Read more...]

Out here in Calfornia, it's hard to remember how it was. Back in the bad old days, before the state banned the use of handheld cell phones while driving. Sure you see the occasional fool holding a mobile phone to his ear, but for the most part people here have accepted that phone calls can wait until the drive's over. Too bad we can't quantify the quite apparent but subjective truth that the freeways are better and safer with the cell phone and text messaging bans. It was gratifying, then, to read this bit of confirmation in a letter to the editor of the Baltimore Sun: I just returned from … [Read more...]

Props to Gov. M. Jodi Rell for her plan to toughen Connecticut's existing ban on driving and talking on handheld cell phones. She's pushing for a text messaging ban, too. No doubt Rell is one of the good guys on this issue. But, get a load of the unfortunate wording in this invitation from the gov's official web site: Dear Friends: If you are like me, there are days when you are on the road all day, away from your computer and with limited access to e-mail. However, you want to be the first to know of the important news ... from my office. Now you can. Sign up today to get text messages … [Read more...]