University/public pledge contest focuses on no texting while driving
Students and supporters of seven Kansas universities can advocate for friendly competition
this fall while challenging themselves and others to stop texting and driving.
The Kansas Insurance Department, insurance companies and governmental sponsors have
created the “Don’t Text #Just Drive” campaign to get university students and supporters
to pledge to stop texting while driving.
“We think this is a great way to promote a worthy goal of saving lives,” said Ken
Selzer, CPA, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance. “You pledge to not text and drive,
you pick your school and you cast your vote. Alumni, supporters and students of these
Kansas schools show their support for the campaign and participate in a friendly competition
at the same time.”
Supporters of each participating university will be able to take the pledge two ways:
Online or by text messaging. The number of pledges each school receives will be compared
to its official fall 2016 enrollment to calculate a percentage. Results will be tabulated
and the winner announced during university athletic contests this fall and winter.
The participating schools are the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Wichita
State University, Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University, Washburn
University and Emporia State University.
Voting begins today and ends Nov. 22. Pledge votes can be cast by texting 50555 and
choosing one of the school keywords: KU, Wildcat, Shocker, Tiger, Gorilla, Ichabod,
or Hornet. Voters can also go online at engage.att.com/icwkansas. More information about the campaign can also be found at www.ksinsurance.org/justdrive.
University officials and student government leaders from each university are supporting
the contest. They will be promoting the voting/pledge through a number of on-campus
and alumni association events.
Kendall Schoenekase, Miss Kansas 2016, is promoting the campaign as well. She has
chosen “Stay Alive, Don’t Text and Drive” as her campaign issue during her reign as
Miss Kansas. She and Commissioner Selzer filmed a series of public service announcements
and recorded radio announcements that will be aired on Kansas media and at athletic
contests throughout the campaign.
Major funding for the promoting the contest comes from AT&T, the Kansas Department
of Transportation, the Kansas Automobile Insurance Plan, the Kansas Turnpike Authority,
Allstate Insurance Company, State Farm Mutual Insurance Company, Farmers Insurance,
AAA and Upland Mutual.
The pledge that each voter agrees to is this: “No text message, email, website or
video is worth the risk of endangering my life or the lives of others on the road.
I pledge to not text and drive and will take action to educate others about the dangers
of texting while driving. No text is worth the risk. It can wait.”
A national study found that three out of four people surveyed admitted to texting
while driving, even though they agreed that the activity is dangerous to themselves
and others.
“All Kansans can be winners through this campaign,” Commissioner Selzer said. “We
can show pride in our universities and make a statement at the same time by using
this phrase: ‘Eyes up. Phone Off. Save Lives.’ ”