The Faces of Rebecca and George Garton, Driver Safety Day; CTIA Celebrates National Wireless Safety Week - May 21st - 27th, 2001

    WASHINGTON, May 24 With the start of Memorial Day weekend
less than a day away, when a record 28.5 million travelers will be on the
road, according to the AAA, the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet
Association (CTIA) and its member companies, believe it is of great importance
to remind drivers of their responsibility to drive safely while also
encouraging them to make a difference by using their wireless phones to help
others.
    Rebecca and George Garton did just that.  While traveling through a
construction area on an intrastate highway last November, Rebecca and George
Garton witnessed a truck hit a school bus full of children and then flee from
the scene. Rebecca and George followed the truck, armed with their wireless
phone and a camera. When the driver realized he was being followed, he pulled
off the highway. The Gartons used their wireless phone to contact the Highway
Patrol to give a description of the driver as well as the truck's license
plate number. After the truck driver had pulled over, the Gartons checked on
the bus driver and students. Thanks to the Gartons' quick thinking and their
wireless phone, the hit-and-run driver was identified and apprehended.
    "The Gartons' heroic actions exemplify the important role individuals and
wireless phones play in emergency situations," said Tom Wheeler, president and
CEO of CTIA.  "Wireless phones have helped reduce response times and have
assisted in the apprehension of drunk, impaired and aggressive drivers."
    When used appropriately, wireless phones are the greatest safety tools
since the creation of 911.  Everyday, nearly 140,000 emergency service calls
are placed from wireless phones.  That's 96 calls per minute!
    Wheeler added, "The wireless industry is committed to educating drivers
about the responsible use of our products.  From major highways to
neighborhood streets, we are encouraging all drivers to make safety their
first priority this holiday weekend."
    "When used responsibly, cellular telephones play an important role in
safety.  We consistently hear of people using them to make an urgent call from
their vehicle notifying authorities of an accident or other serious
situation," stated John Moffat, Chair of the National Association of
Governors' Highway Safety Representatives (NAGHSR).  Moffat added, "As the
representative body for state highway safety leaders, NAGHSR supports National
Wireless Safety Week and CTIA in its efforts to ensure that people do in fact
make safety their first call."

    CTIA reminds drivers that if they decide to use their phone while driving,
to first ask themselves,

    *  "Is this the right time to make a call?"
    *  "Will this call distract me from my first responsibility to drive
       safely?"

    If they do decide to call, CTIA encourages individuals to follow some
basic dos and don'ts:

    *  Let the person you are talking with know you're driving;
    *  Keep the call short;
    *  Use a hands free device and speed dial to place calls;
    *  Never take notes or look up phone numbers while driving;
    *  Never use your phone in heavy traffic or hazardous conditions; and
    *  Let voicemail pick-up.

    CTIA also reminds drivers that state laws prohibit distracted driving.

    CTIA is celebrating National Wireless Safety Week by profiling the "Faces
of Safety."  Each day an important aspect of safety will be highlighted along
with a wireless hero who armed with their wireless phone, stopped a crime,
assisted a neighbor or saved a loved one.  In the coming days look for the
stories of Steven Wayne Elmore (Impaired Driver Prevention Day), Kay Brooks
(Disaster Relief Day) and Erica Richardson (School Safety Day).

    CTIA is the international association for the wireless telecommunications
industry, representing all elements of wireless communications.  The CTIA
Wireless Foundation supports programs that address some of our nation's
greatest challenges through creative applications of wireless technology.
http://www.DriveResponsibly.org

    NAGHSR is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices
of states, territories, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Indian
Nation. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and
state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. For
further information, contact NAGHSR at 202-789-0942 or e-mail
jadkins@statehighwaysafety.org . http://www.naghsr.org/

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