ALBANY, NY--March 27, 2012: Anyone who wants to experience how dangerous it is to text while driving can take a virtual ride in a distracted driving simulator without consequences at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 28.
“People go silent when they start reading the messages on the car.”
Nearby will rest the harsh reality of a crumpled car in which two people died as a result of someone texting while driving.
"The message is powerful," said Grant Getzoni, a Nationwide agent from Buffalo, who takes the simulator and the crash car to schools and businesses in western New York. "People go silent when they start reading the messages on the car."
The car has been signed by more than 6,000 people with sympathies and compassion for the lives that was lost in that crash.
The simulator and crash car display will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, 2012, on the Empire State Plaza in the concourse between the Capitol and the Legislative Office Building.
Nationwide Insurance will host the event with Sen. Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. (R-Merrick), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. Representatives from the New York State Police Troop G Traffic Safety Section will be present to talk about the importance of highway safety, the dangers of distracted driving, and answer inquiries about the state's vehicle and traffic laws.
"New York State has some of the nation's strongest distracted driving laws," Fuschillo said. "However, it's also important to educate motorists about how dangerous distracted driving is. This driving simulator is the perfect tool to teach that lesson and help save lives."
The governor and legislature tightened New York's distracted driving laws this past summer -- giving law enforcement greater tools to protect New Yorkers on state roadways. The legislation made texting-while-driving a primary offense, which means police officers can now pull over a driver solely for a distracted driving violation. The change in the law also increased the fine to $150. In addition, the governor increased the penalty from a two- to a three-point offense through state regulation.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced last year that a pilot program in Syracuse proved that increased enforcement coupled with a public education campaign decreased the use of handheld cell phone use and texting while driving by 32 percent.
About Nationwide
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. The company provides customers a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, pet, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and specialty health services. For more information, visit Nationwide.
Nationwide, the Nationwide frame mark, and On Your Side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
