New driving campaign aimed at distracted driving in the Star City
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – A new campaign in the Star City aims to address distracted driving, titled 'Focused Driving, Safe Arriving.'
Distracted driving has increased throughout Roanoke, Officials say over the last 5 years, they've seen a 60% increase in crashes involving a distraction. To combat this, the city along with the Department of Motor Vehicles has launched the 'Focused Driving, Safe Arriving' summer campaign.
The campaign is working to decrease distracted driving, by increasing awareness of the risks and consequences, the laws behind it, and giving practical ways to avoid distracted driving.
Posters discouraging distracted driving are being put up in parking lots and businesses. All in the hopes of creating a safer Roanoke, and to help save lives.
Virginia promoting teen driving safety with 'Arrive Alive' program
'The goal of the campaign is to reduce distraction involved crashes. The message that we chose was 'focused driving safe arriving,'. So instead of kind of like wrist slapping, like don't distracted drive. We wanted to encourage people to do the right thing, which is basically when you get behind the wheel of a car to have a singular focus so your hands are on the wheel, you're looking out the windshield and your mind is on the task at hand, which is driving,' said Rob Issem, Complete Streets & Vision Zero Coordinator with the City.
The city says there are multiple different ways those at home can participate in the campaign. You can take the focused driving pledge online, become a campaign ambassador by placing the special yard signs in your parking lots. or if you're an artist, you can create a piece of art connected with the slogan 'Focused Driving, Safe Arriving,' and 10 lucky people will get to see their art on a signal box in downtown.
You can find all the different ways you can get involved here.
The campaign will run throughout the city until June 13th.
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