Neko
Supreme Overlord
Feb 9, 2004, 3:23 AM
Post #1 of 1
(1648 views)
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ATLANTA - January 28, 2004 — Cingular Wireless' award-winning teen distracted driving program ended 2003 having reached approximately 5.6 million students, up from two million at the end of 2002. More than 14,500 high schools and 2,100 professional driving schools in all 50 states are using the program, which Cingular created in 2002 as part of Be Sensible, a public service campaign to educate and remind consumers nationwide about safe and courteous ways to use mobile phones.
State driver education programs in 11 states have officially accepted and facilitated distribution of "Be Sensible: Don't Drive Yourself to Distraction" to their schools, and one state - Maryland - has mandated the use of Be Sensible for all state-maintained driver education programs. Other state driving programs that have distributed the videos include: Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Virginia. Alabama and Mississippi are currently in the process of distributing the videos.
"2003 was a banner year for Be Sensible: Don't Drive Yourself to Distraction," said Steve Skinner, Director External Affairs for Cingular Wireless. "Cingular believes that education is the key to preventing distracted driving, and we’re pleased by the program's growth in 2003. Be Sensible reinforces our commitment to teens, and is consistent with our industry-leading position that new or novice drivers should not use the phone while driving."
A feedback survey of driver education teachers who have used the program reveals that 99 percent would use the program again, and that 88 percent agreed or strongly agreed that the students learned how to manage or eliminate driving distractions.
Cingular's Be Sensible: Don't Drive Yourself to Distraction is a comprehensive program, offered free of charge for high school educators and driving schools. The program teaches novice drivers how to manage all potential distractions, and includes an in-class video, detailed educator's guide, a wall poster and classroom activities to help teens learn to become more responsible motorists. It has been the recipient of several education awards, including the CINE Golden Eagle and the U.S. International Film and Video Festival Silver Screen.
Visit www.be-sensible.com for more information such as a list of "Teen Tips" or to view the teen driving educational video.
The Be Sensible safety and courtesy program was created by Cingular Wireless in 2001. The teen driving portion of the program has received the ongoing support of and/or collaboration from the following organizations: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (ADTSEA), the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), the Driving School Association of the Americas (DSAA) and the American Automobile Association (AAA).
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