The too-short life of a child killed by a distracted driver is being honored with a superhero comic. The Travelers Companies commissioned "Zaadii: The Legend of Z-Hawk," and it was unveiled via New York Comic Con’s virtual event in early October. The 3-year-old Zaadii Tozhon Tso is presented as a grownup, one of the first Navajo superheroes. "Zaadii’s greatest joy in life was superheroes, so the company commissioned renowned comic book writers and artists Gail Simone, Jim Calafiore and Jeffrey Veregge, and worked closely with Zaadii’s family, to design a story honoring the young boy," … [Read more...]
NY mayor sends texting message
Hizzoner isn't playing when it comes to distracted driving. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio directed his police detail to stop and cite a motorist for texting while he was traveling on FDR Drive in Manhattan over the weekend. "I just said, ‘Pull her over, take whatever enforcement action you would take in that situation. Give her some on-the-spot education,' " de Blasio told reporters a few days later, while pushing his new traffic safety initiative under the Vision Zero umbrella. "I'm happy to be citizen patrol here," he added. De Blasio said he didn't know if the woman was told the … [Read more...]
VW uses wrecks to build iPhone cases
Volkswagen Sweden has found a use for the carcasses of vehicles wrecked by distracted drivers: cell phone cases. "Do you know someone who needs a reminder?" a promo video for the startling public-safety campaign asks. The automaker produced 153 "handmade and numbered" cases for iPhone 8s from the wrecked vehicles' mangled metal -- one case for every crash since Sweden enacted a distracted driving law earlier this year. "We believe a phone case made by unfortunate cars makes you think twice before you pick up your phone," said Johan Karlsson of Volkswagen Stockholm. "It will be like a … [Read more...]
Save a life hack, simplified
Ontario has dispatched a round-mouthed announcer to promote the "save a life hack." The guy can't even pronounce "algorithm," but wonders: "What if the solution isn't more technology, it's less … " Catch the wry video to reveal this low-tech marvel of an idea to fight distracted driving. (It's part of the province's "put down the phone" campaign.) pic.twitter.com/Gr0I0mqzW1— Steven Del Duca (@StevenDelDuca) July 19, 2016 Steven Del Duca is the Transportation minister who last year oversaw Ontario's increase in distracted driving punishments. Canada recently saw a … [Read more...]
Ad firm tries to bury distracted driving
A new low in advertising? Never say never, but that Toronto billboard encouraging motorists to drive distracted is in fact a public-safety message. "Text and drive," the stark billboard urges in all grim all-caps. Courtesy of "Wathan Funeral Home." Those seeking to do business with the funeral home will be disappointed. The mortuary doesn't exist. It does have a web site, however. Here's what it says: If you're here, you've probably seen our "Text and Drive" billboard. And if you have, you probably came to this website to tell us what horrible people we are for running an ad like … [Read more...]
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