To launch April’s National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in 2015, our team coordinated and staffed a tour of 11 community college campuses throughout California on behalf of the California Office of Traffic Safety, The tour, called “Silence the Distraction,” was targeted at teens and young adults and aimed to create public awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.

After months of planning, our first stop was at Sacramento City College where we tasked the students with shooting as many baskets as possible while sending and receiving texts on a hand-held device.  We wanted to show the students just how difficult it was to make a basket while texting with the bigger picture being that if you can’t shoot hoops successfully while texting, you certainly can’t drive and text without being a danger to yourself and others.

After Sacramento City College we continued the statewide tour, heading to: City College of San Francisco, Chabot College, Modesto Junior College, Fresno City College, LA Trade Technical College, East LA College, Palomar College, San Diego Miramar College, San Diego City College and Irvine Valley College. It was a whirlwind tour, but we were able to reach thousands of students with important campaign messages, and educate them on the dangers involved with texting and driving. Sadly, drivers in their 20s make up 27 percent of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes.  We hope our efforts will help change the behavior of students who participated in our events throughout the state.

While our events did have a great prize wheel stocked with gift cards, coffee cards, and fun emoji-themed items, the grand prize was a VIP trip for two to the Wango Tango concert in Carson on May 9. The lucky winner was from Whittier, Ca. We’re so excited for her upcoming experience and can’t wait to see all of the great photos!

Remember, everyone—Don’t text and drive! Silence the Distraction and get to your destination safely.

For more information about the Office of Traffic Safety’s efforts, visit http://ots.ca.gov/ and https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaOTS.

To take a look at the distracted driving fun from Sacramento City College, check out this news segment from CBS 13, HERE!