Earlier today, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin brought his "Txting & Drving…It Can Wait" campaign to Mount St. Charles Academy, where he spoke to over 600 ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade students about the dangers of texting and driving.
Joined by Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas Carey, Rhode Island State Police Lt. Eric LaRiviere, RIDOT State Traffic Engineer Robert Rocchio and AT&T Regional Director for External Affairs Joseph Shannon, Attorney General Kilmartin urged Mount St. Charles students to pledge to never text and drive.
"With the proliferation in cell phone usage, texting while driving has become an epidemic nationwide. In an effort to make Rhode Island's roadways safer, we began reaching out to schools last year to talk to kids about texting and driving," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "So far, we have visited 21 high schools across Rhode Island, where over 8,000 students have pledged never to text and drive. As pleased as we are with the success of our It Can Wait program, the fact remains that distracted driving is a major problem. That is why we are committing to spreading the message: when it comes to texting and driving, It Can Wait."
Chief Thomas Carey of the Woonsocket Police Department reminds everyone: "It is the responsibility of all motorists, not just law enforcement officers, to ensure that our roadways are safe for all. Texting is not safe driving and poses a risk not only to yourself but other drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Drive safe. Don't drive distracted."
Throughout the school year, AG Kilmartin and RIDOT will bring the public awareness campaign to area high schools. The next stop is scheduled for Thursday, October 31 at Coventry High School. Other schools are encouraged to follow the lead of the Mount St. Charles students by bringing the "It Can Wait" program to their high school; contact the Office of Attorney General at (401) 274-4400 ext 2007 for more information.
To take the pledge and find additional information on AT&T's "It Can Wait" campaign, please visit www.att.com/itcanwait.