STATE

The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, the PNA Foundation, Pennsylvania’s newspapers and AT&T are joining together again to host an “It Can Wait” editorial contest to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.

Distracted driving is involved in more than 200,000 vehicle crashes each year, often involving injuries and death.

Despite knowing the risks, seven in ten drivers engage in smart phone activity while driving and four in ten teens admit to social networking while driving.

However, statistics point to opportunities to change behavior. According to recent research, 78 percent of teen drivers say they are likely not to text and drive if friends tell them it is wrong and 82 percent of drivers who have taken action to stop texting while driving feel good about themselves.

The contest, is open to all Pennsylvania high school students and offers a $500 prize for the column or editorial that best answers the question, “Why is it important to take the ‘It Can Wait’ pledge to keep your eyes on the road, not on your phone?”

Entries should be submitted to foundation@pa-news.org by Feb. 5, 2016.

The PNA will announce the winning statewide entry by Feb. 26, 2016.

The award for the winning editorial will be presented at a luncheon at the Hershey Lodge April 6, 2016.

“It Can Wait” is a national movement urging drivers to visit www.ItCanWait.com, where they can pledge to keep their eyes on the road, not on their phones and share their pledges via Twitter (#ItCanWait) and Facebook.

Since its launch in 2010, the campaign has helped increase awareness of the dangers of texting while driving to about 90 percent for all audiences surveyed and inspired more than 7.2 million pledges not to text and drive.

For information visit the website http://prmediarelease.com/pa-newspapers-and-att-team-up-against-distracted-driving-with-it-can-wait-editorial-campaign/#sthash.l6sfgvWM.dpuf