Safe-Driving Campaign Urges Americans to 'Take the Pledge to Slow Down,' Before Halloween
IRVINE, Calif.--Oct. 23, 2002--Concerned Citizens Can Sign Online Contract to Observe Neighborhood Speed Limits -- and Send it to Five Friends
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more people now die in drunken driving accidents during Halloween than on New Year's Eve, making October 31st a truly frightening night for parents of trick-or-treating kids.
In an effort to help protect families and kids on what should be a fun, memorable evening, Autobytel Inc.'s national safe-driving campaign Take the Pledge is urging drivers to log onto www.autobytel.com and "Take the Pledge" to observe neighborhood speed limits -- prior to Halloween night. The organization is also urging everyone who "Takes The Pledge" online to also email the safe-driving contract to at least five people they know.
"Drunk drivers, kids running around neighborhoods in dark costumes, many with limited peripheral vision -- regrettably, it's a recipe for disaster," said Melanie Webber, Take the Pledge spokesperson, Autobytel Inc. "Our goal is to prompt as many Americans as possible to sign a personal contract, `The Pledge,' to drive with particular care on Halloween night -- to give the situation some forethought, so they can make smart, compassionate decisions when the time comes."
Autobytel's Take the Pledge campaign has been endorsed by police departments from Charlotte, N.C. to Los Angeles, CA and was recently promoted by the Department of Transportation during National Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day. The City of Los Angeles recently endorsed the campaign when it issued a citation recognizing Autobytel's Take the Pledge campaign.
Autobytel's Take the Pledge has also compiled a list of safe-driving (and safe-walking) tips designed to help kids and drivers avoid Halloween traffic tragedies, which are shown below and also available by logging on to the Take the Pledge pages of www.autobytel.com.
Autobytel `Take the Pledge' Happy Halloween Safety Tips:
| -- | Take the Autobytel Pledge and drive the speed limit - ESPECIALLY on neighborhood streets. |
| -- | Expect the unexpected. Drive, in general, as if there's a kid behind every parked car, around every corner. |
| -- | DON'T assume kids can see you. Many have masks that hinder their peripheral vision; others are too busy pursuing their next `treat' to pay attention to traffic. |
| -- | Enter and exit driveways and alleys with special caution. Pedestrians probably can't see you coming. |
| -- | Children under age 12 should be supervised by parents, or a responsible older sibling or adult. |
| -- | Create clear rules for your kids ahead of time. Make sure they know, for example, to ALWAYS stay on the sidewalk and to NEVER cross the street without a supervising adult. |
| -- | If costumes are dark, affix reflectors, red safety lights, or fluorescent tape - anything that will make them highly visible to drivers. |
| -- | Make sure kids have flashlights and keep them lit while walking. |
| -- | Arrange transportation if you're planning to party. Call a cab, designate a sober driver - just promise yourself you won't get behind the wheel drunk. |
| -- | Log onto autobytel.com, autoweb.com, or carsmart.com and review the safety guide on the Take the Pledge area of the site. |
