Text-free travels touted
The Pa. Turnpike Commission will begin a partnership with AAA during Memorial Day weekend to discourage drivers from texting behind the wheel.
In 2010, 200 accidents on the Pa. Turnpike were attributed to distracted driving, according to the Turnpike Commission. As a result, the commission is teaming up with AAA this weekend to spotlight one of the more dangerous distractions: texting.
Safety advocates will man the Allentown rest stop on the Northeast Extension to distribute brochures and a "text-free" thumb band to remind drivers to keep their thumbs on the wheel.
According to AAA, 32 states and the District of Columbia have laws that address text messaging by all drivers and an additional seven prohibit texting by teen drivers. Similar bills are awaiting action by Pa. lawmakers.
The event is the first of five anti-texting campaigns planned this summer to promote text-free turnpike driving. On June 17, the event will move to the King of Prussia Service Plaza.