Radio station plans no texting and driving campaign

| 22/03/2011

(CNS): A local media company says that it will be launching a campaign next month against the use of cell phones while driving. Paramount Media said that while most safe driving campaigns in the past have concentrated on drinking and driving as the number one evil, studies now show that the use of phones while driving is killing more than 6,000 people a year in the United States and injuring another 500,000. “Using a cell phone while driving delays a driver’s reaction as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent,” the media firm said in a release. Paramount says it is now looking for corporate and community support for the campaign and is asking the public to join forces to put an end to texting and driving.

As well as school presentations, Paramount said teams will be hitting the streets to educate the public and encourage them to sign the campaign pledge.

The campaign comes at a time when there is increasing calls in the community for an official band on people using phones while driving. Many countries have introduced bans on hand held phones but allow use of phones held in ‘hands free’ devices.

“We here at Paramount Media along with corporate sponsors such as CUC, Deloitte, Aetna,
Paramount Group, Butterfield, High Impact Digital Billboards, and Sign Solutions are putting
together a safe driving campaign to help put a stop to cell phone use while driving a vehicle and
distracted driving that is endangering the lives of drivers and pedestrians alike. We hope to
work together to make the streets in Cayman a safer place for all,” a spokesperson said.

Anyone who would like to help with the campaign is asked to contact Paramount Media directly on 949‐8423 or email events@paramountmedia.ky.

Paramount Media is a 100% Caymanian owned Media Company operating CHR/ Dance Spin 94.9FM and Urban/ Caribbean Vibe 98.9FM.

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  1. Frequent Flyer says:

    I hope that isn’t the reason that Mr Arthur’s keeps getting rammed into!!! That is such a shame

    I actually saw a girl on a MOPED texting recently!!! She almost rear-ended the car in front of her.
    Serious???!!!!!

  2. Anonymous says:

    Hands-free units free you from havingto physically manipulate the device, but don’t reduce your need to think about the conversation you are having, which is a cognitive distraction. Trying to find various components of your hands-free phone; putting on a headset, or changing phone settings while driving can take your attention away from the driving task, and can increase your chances of being in a crash.

    If you use a hands-free cell phone, it is still better to pull over to take or place a call.

  3. Jan says:

    How many taxi drivers almost hit your car by coming into your lane because they are “texting or BBM” I almost got in an accident this morning and even though I blowed my horn it didn’t matter to him, he just kept on texting!!!! When is this going to be taken seriously and something done? When a tourist or “government official” gets killed or seriously hurt because some taxi driver or tourbus diver was texting while driving???? People wake up, I was guilty of this too and it can be addictive but is it worth a life?!??! Get involved in this campaign and make a vow for yourself and your children that you won’t drive and text!!

  4. Frank says:

    I hope the RCIP’s will be paying attention because literally 8 out of 10 that i cross on the road are using the phone…with no seatbelt…and no turn signal.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Just just one thing you can say.. Bla Bla, Bla , Bla, Bu Bla, Bla Bla Bla and that’s about it. Getting people to stop talking/texting and driving is like trying to get people off crack. Afterall, some of the greatest intellectual conversations go on while people are driving….wha cha doing, Nothing. Wha cha gonna do…don’t know. Going to work today?….dunno…mmmm, you see chaniquas new doo? dat girl fly but her boyfriend he needa get a job…keep talkin bout how he gonna get one of dem governtment jobs

  6. Anonymous says:

    Gud IDa.

    – Sent from my Blackberry Handheld device (while driving)

  7. Anonymous says:

    I completely agree with this, but why stop at texting?

    Using a phone while driving should be illegal. With the exception of a hands free device or similar.

    Common sense.

    But like so many common sense laws that surely 99% of the population agree with, it will not be passed any time soon.

    • Pending says:

      Indeed.

      They should make “hands free” sets part of licensing requirements for automobiles, you cant pass inspection unless you have one in your car (truck whatever).

      But what I want to know is what will Paramount Media do to discourage drivers calling in to win compettions on the radio, shout out to friends on the way to work, call in traffic issues etc etc? There is no denying that calling in to radio stations whilst driving ones car has long been practised down here.

      • Anonymous says:

        Over here in the UK it is amazing to see the number of people driving VERY expensive cars that all have a hands-free facility, and yet are still using hand held mobiles. It is illegal in the UK to use a mobile while driving, the fine is £60 + points on your licence. They discovered when checking phone records of accident “victims” that many of the people involved in these “accidents” were using their mobile phone at the time!!!. I can’t believe it’s STILL not illegal in Cayman.

        • Anonymous says:

          I can’t help noticing the apparent correlation between increased cell-phone use and the number of off-road excursions resulting in smashed walls and fences. Many who live adjacent to the road are now placing large boulders behind their fences to protect their property from unexpected visitors. Such rocks didn’t stop a driver on Town Hall Road just recently demolishing a fence and then his car on the rocks behind it. It’s a comedy show!