Verizon: Keep Your Mind On The Driving and Your Hands On The Wheel Keep You Filthy Eyes On the Road Ahead.

Verizon to Help New Drivers Learn About Wireless Safety Behind the Wheel Free Educational Packet Available to Schools, Libraries, Driver's Education Instructors

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 7 -- Verizon Wireless has reinforced the company's industry leading position on responsible driving by launching the distribution of an education kit to teach new drivers about wireless safety behind the wheel. The program, entitled vIQ(SM), or ``vehicle Intelligence Quest'', is an extension of Verizon Wireless' ``Drive Responsibly. Call with Care.'' campaign. vIQ encourages new drivers to consider their driving aptitude and educates them about the options for using wireless technologies in the vehicle. The educational package is available complimentary to educators, schools, libraries and drivers education instructors throughout the United States.

vIQ, designed to be part of the driver education curricula, is packaged with an instructive Educator's Guide and video, which takes the instructor step-by-step through the program and also suggests breakout activities to give instructors and their students an opportunity to think and talk about the issues of vehicle safety and wireless phone usage. Emmy Award winning creative director, Peter Reynolds of FableVision, scripted the animated vIQ video and educational guide.

The program presents three real-life scenarios incorporating challenges that drivers face daily. Students are then asked to choose the best option for them given the situation. Rather than present only one ``correct'' answer, the vIQ video presents the option that was the most suitable given the driver and the circumstances: an emergency while driving; a driver who needs to make calls when traveling; teens trying to communicate with one another amid other distractions.

As the U.S. wireless industry leader, Verizon Wireless puts its strength behind its ``Drive Responsibly. Call with Care.'' program to extend the message to new drivers. Verizon Wireless is committed to educating the public on the responsible in-vehicle use of wireless phones. For those who choose to talk and drive, Verizon Wireless believes hands-free technologies can help improve attentiveness to driving and this program helps those drivers assess their aptitude to make the smartest decision for them.