Today is the first national 'No Phone Zone' day, a day to honor those who have been killed by distracted driving and to get more people to pledge their full attention behind the wheel.
The 'No Phone Zone' has been a push by The Oprah Winfrey Show and many organizations such as the Department of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board. Their goal is to keep more eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, and minds focused on driving.
You've probably at least heard of the ‘No Phone Zone'.You may have even seen the shows Oprah has dedicated to the deadly practice of texting and driving.
"The brain just doesn't work the way we'd like it to work, we can't multitask the way that a lot of people think they can," said Dr. David Strayer, a University of Utah professor of psychology, on a recent Oprah show. "Many people think they're safer drivers, a lot of people think they're better than average. They think that they can talk or text while driving, it's the other person who's at fault."
For Oprah, the ‘No Phone Zone' has become a mission.
"I saw a story in the New York Times last year about a mother who had lost her daughter, had just spoken to her several minutes before she was killed by someone who was driving and using a cell phone. I said to the producers 'we should do something about this'," said the talk show host.
From there, a nationwide campaign was ignited, with over 200,000 people signing the 'No Phone Zone' pledge, including many celebrities.
But behind the pledge are real statistics, like the 6,000 deaths and 500,000 injuries caused by distracted driving in 2008.
"Just as seatbelts are mandatory, just as driving while drunk is considered absolutely taboo, I'm hoping that this becomes not just law, but second nature for all of us," said Winfrey.
Friday you can sign the 'No Phone Zone' pledge at the Hy-Vee on Gordon Drive. KCAU representatives will be there from 11 to 8:30 p.m. Those who sign the pledge also have the chance of winning gift certificates to Verizon Wireless.
You can also tune into Channel 9 KCAU-TV Friday at 4 p.m. for a special edition of the Oprah Winfrey Show.
