The recent DNT TXT N DRV Campaign was such an overwhelming success that the Saline County Sheriff’s Office and the Benton Police Department will be hosting another booth during the Old Fashioned Day event.  Old Fashioned Day is held on Oct. 8th in downtown Benton around the courthouse square. 

During the event held at the fair there were 260 pledge sheets signed by people promising to not text and drive.  People were encouraged to sign the pledge sheet by the teens with the Haskell and Benton Mayor’s Youth Council who manned the booth. 

The campaign, “DNT TXT N DRV”, is being conducted in conjunction with the Remember Alex Brown (RAB) Foundation in Texas. The RAB Foundation was started by Johnny Mac & Jeanne Brown after the death of their teenage daughter, Alex Brown.  Alex was a senior in high school that was texting and driving while on her way to school one morning and never made it to school.  Jeanne worked at the school and when she went to see if she could find Alex and found her wrecked truck in a field.  Alex later died as a result of her injuries and it was determined she had sent and received over 10,000 text messages in the few weeks preceding the wreck. 

The RAB Foundation’s purpose is to make other teenagers and young adults aware of the dangers involved with texting while driving.  In joining with the RAB Foundation, we are hoping to convey the message that texting while driving IS dangerous and against the law.  In 2009 alone, there were 5,474 people killed on roadways in the US in which distracted driving was a primary factor in the crash.  Additionally, distracted driving was responsible for 448,000 injuries during the same year. 

During Old Fashioned Day the Mayor’s Youth Council members will again be asking people to sign the pledge to not text and drive and will be giving out thumb rings with “DNT TXT N DRV” printed on them.  The thumb rings are endorsed by the RAB Foundation and serve as a constant reminder not to text and drive every time you pick up your phone. 

For more information on distracted driving please visit the RAB Foundation website at: www.rememberalexbrownfoundation.org, or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website on distracted driving at: www.distraction.gov