Increase Road Safety in Florida by Building Young Drivers' Vehicle `IQ'

    BOCA RATON, Fla.--Nov. 28, 2001--A new national educational program is now available to Florida schools that could make local roads safer by improving the "vehicle intelligence" of young drivers - especially in their use of wireless phones.
    The vehicle intelligence (vIQ) video and educational guide -- now being offered for free by Verizon Wireless to high schools throughout the state -- is crafted to be especially entertaining yet informational for young drivers, and is designed to be easily incorporated into driver education classes.
    The 12-minute video - animated by Emmy award-winning FableVision -- uses comical characters, attention-grabbing illustrations and humorous situations to provoke interesting and lively thought and discussion about a serious safety topic.
    "The vIQ presentation is a lot of fun, but it also can be a great boost to road safety here in Florida. We hope all of our local schools will choose to integrate it into their driver education curricula," said Mike Lanman, Florida region president of Verizon Wireless, which sponsored and produced the program in conjunction with numerous law enforcement and safety agencies. "With wireless phone safety in Florida such a big issue in the news these days, we expect to receive a great response from educators. But we want parents and students to know about the program now, too, so they can specifically ask for it through their schools."
    Parents and high school students interested in the vIQ program should contact driver education instructors and administrators at their own school. Verizon Wireless will provide free videos and instructor guides to any high schools, libraries and select community groups that request the materials. Residents and educators can learn more about the program by visiting: http://www.verizonwireless.com/responsibledriving.

    Drive responsibly.
    Call with care.
    Verizon Wireless.

    Editor's note: To preview the vIQ video, please request a copy from Christine de la Huerta at 305-448-7450, ext. 122, or Christine.delahuerta@rbbpr.com.