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Issue: 1256 Date: 9/18/2014
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MISSOURI PRESS ASSOCIATION AND AT&T HIGHLIGHT DANGERS OF TEXTING WHILE DRIVING
Missouri Press Association Hosts Second Annual It Can Wait Editorial Contest; Open to Middle School and High School Students
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September 15, 2014 -- For the second year in a row, the Missouri Press Association (MPA), local Missouri newspapers, and AT&T are joining together to host an It Can Wait editorial contest to raise awareness about the dangers of texting while driving. The contest, which begins September 19, the third annual It Can Wait day of action, is open to middle school and high school students from across Missouri and provides students with the opportunity to win a $500 prize for a column or editorial that best answers the question, "Why is it important to take the It Can Wait pledge to never text and drive?"
"Across Missouri, and across our nation, texting while driving has become an epidemic, which is why we decided to once again host an It Can Wait editorial contest with AT&T and our local member papers," said Doug Crews, Executive Director of the Missouri Press Association. "By helping raise awareness and by providing students with a meaningful learning experience, we are committed to helping do our part to stop this dangerous behavior."
Texting while driving is involved in more than 200,000 vehicle crashes each year, often involving injuries and death. Despite knowing the risks of texting while driving, 43 percent of teens admit to texting while driving. However, there is an opportunity to change this behavior as ninety percent of teen drivers say they would stop if a friend in the car asked them and 78 percent say they are likely not to text and drive if friends tell them it is wrong.
Last year's It Can Wait editorial contest generated significant exposure about the dangers of texting while driving. Nearly 30 local newspapers throughout Missouri solicited contest entries and a Springfield, Mo. student was selected as the statewide winner of the contest.
"I want to thank the Missouri Press Association and its members for their efforts to help raise awareness about the dangers of texting while driving," said AT&T President John Sondag. "Local newspapers play a powerful role in educating their communities about important public safety issues. By encouraging participation in the It Can Wait editorial contest, the MPA and local newspapers are doing a great public service and helping make our roadways safer for Missourians."
This year's It Can Wait editorial contest is open to students enrolled in any Missouri public or private middle school or high school. Local newspapers have the option to host local contests and will determine which entries are submitted to the MPA in consideration for the statewide prize.
The MPA will announce the winning statewide entries for the middle school and high school categories November 1, 2014. As part of the contest, the MPA will award the winner of each category a $500 prize as well as provide a tour of the University of Missouri School Of Journalism and the MPA Office and a dinner for the students and their parents with the leadership of AT&T, the MPA and their local newspaper publisher.
It Can Wait is a national movement tapping into the power of social media and personal networks to make texting and driving as unacceptable as drinking and driving. It urges drivers to visit www.ItCanWait.com, where they can pledge not to text and drive, and share their pledge with others via Twitter (#ItCanWait) and Facebook. It also offers a host of educational resources and information on the issue - including a documentary featuring families impacted by texting and driving accidents.
To date, more than 5 million pledges have been made to never text and drive and more than 2,500 organizations along with tens of thousands of individuals have joined the movement to raise awareness and change behavior.
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