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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 10, 2017
First Baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Express Lanes and Youth Driving Advocates Reignite Regional Road Safety Campaign
Area student leaders share perspective during Global Youth Traffic Safety Month
Tysons, Va. – Transurban, together with regional transportation partners, launched the Phones Down campaign last November to address distracted driving in the Greater Washington area. To continue the conversation about distracted driving, Transurban is partnering with professional first baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the next phase of the Phones Down campaign: Phones Down. Home Run. The campaign aims to reach young regional drivers and reinforce the risks of driving distracted before teen drivers take to the road for summer break.
“No text is worth risking your safety,” said first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. “I am proud to be the face of ‘Phones Down. Home Run. and encourage our region’s young drivers to take the pledge against distracted driving together with Transurban.”
“Transurban serves millions of drivers in the Washington D.C. region and safety is at the forefront of everything we do,” said Jennifer Aument, group general manager, Transurban, operator of the Express Lanes. “We are excited to partner with Ryan Zimmerman to increase awareness about the risks of driving distracted during Global Youth Traffic Safety Month.”
Global Youth Traffic Safety Month is an annual campaign held each May, which encourages youth organizations to engage in traffic safety projects in their local communities. i Each day in the United States more than eight people are killed and 1,161 are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver.ii Nearly 60 percent of teen crashes involved distractions behind the wheel. iii
“Distracted driving is one of the top safety issues on Virginia roads,” said Larry Cloyed, Express Lanes Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). “VDOT is proud to partner on the Phones Down. Home Run. campaign to encourage young drivers to take the pledge to drive distraction-free.”
“Trauma is the third leading cause of death in the United States – and the most preventable. I am proud to be a part of the Phones Down. Home Run campaign to educate teen drivers and help prevent the tragedies that result from distracted driving,” said Linda Watkins, injury prevention and outreach coordinator, Inova Trauma Services. “There is nothing more important than the safety of these young drivers.”
The Campaign The Phones Down. Home Run. campaign, sponsored by Transurban, will deliver an anti-distracted driving message from Ryan Zimmerman to more than 1 million local young drivers and their parents by using online advertising, social media promotion and the voices of local parenting bloggers to spread safe driving reminders that feature Zimmerman. Drivers are encouraged to visit PhonesDownHomeRun.com to take a safe-driving pledge and receive access to shareable graphic content featuring Zimmerman.
“With summer around the corner, it is so important that teens hear this anti-distracted driving message,” said Richard Shahan, project manager, Partners for Safe Teen Driving. “Our mission is to enable
Media Contact:Matt Herrick (571) 256 [email protected]
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communities to give parents the information and tools they need to help their teens become safe drivers. We are excited to be a part of this safe driving campaign and encourage all young motorists to take the pledge not to drive distracted.”
About the Express LanesThe 495 and 95 Express Lanes operate on the Capital Beltway and I-95 to provide drivers with faster and more predictable travel options in Northern Virginia. Together the 495 and 95 Express Lanes create a region-wide network of free-flowing lanes for more than 40 miles from the Dulles Toll Road to Stafford County. Delivered through a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban, the Express Lanes give drivers reliable travel choices on two of northern Virginia’s most congested roadways. For more information, please visit ExpressLanes.com.
About TransurbanTransurban manages and develops urban toll road networks in the United States and Australia. We partner with governments to meet the long-term transportation needs of communities — developing sustainable, safe, innovative and efficient projects. Transurban operates the 495 and 95 Express Lanes in Northern Virginia. For more information, please visit transurban.com.
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i https://noys.org/about-us/our-programs/gytsm/iihttps://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving iiihttp://newsroom.aaa.com/2016/06/aaa-reveals-top-driving-distractions-teens-100-deadliest-days-begin/
