Sept. 19 Is Designated As "No Texting While Driving" Day in East Haven

East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr. issued a proclamation designating September 19 as “No Texting While Driving Day” and called for all East Haven residents to take the pledge to never text and drive. 

“Text messaging has become the way many people communicate today, which means some people are doing it at the worst possible time – while driving,” stated Maturo.  “We need to help spread the message and educate our community that when it comes to driving, texting can and should wait.” 

According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, those who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in some type of safety critical event, as compared to those drivers who don't text while they drive.  Texting while driving is involved in over 100,000 motor vehicles crashes each year, often causing injuries and deaths. 

It has been illegal to text and/or use a hand-held phone while driving in Connecticut since 2010.  Under Connecticut’s cell phone and texting law, violations involve heavy fines, ranging from $125 for a first offense, $250 for a second violation, and $400 for each subsequent violation.

Wireless provider AT&T launched the “It Can Wait” campaign in Connecticut and throughout the United States in 2009 to educate the public about the dangers of texting while driving by encouraging consumers to take the personal pledge not to text while driving. 

East Haven’s Mayor Maturo and AT&T are calling on all drivers to go to www.itcanwait.com to take the no-texting-and-driving pledge, and then share their promise with others via Twitter (#itcanwait) and Facebook.  For additional information and resources, visit www.att.com/itcanwait.