[May 06, 2013] Outdoor Advertising Association of America Partners with NHTSA and Ad Council for 'Stop the Texts. Stop the Wrecks.' Campaign Tweet May 06, 2013 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- At the beginning of the summer driving season - which is twice as deadly for teens - Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) announced it is expanding its anti-texting campaign on billboards and bus shelters ("Stop the Texts. Stop the Wrecks."). According to a release, more than 1,000 billboards and bus shelters will display anti-texting messages, along with public service posters in airports, phone kiosks and newsstands. According to NHTSA, drivers who use hand-held devices are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. "Texting behind the wheel is a dangerous practice that can have devastating consequences on our nation's roadways," said David Strickland, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). "The campaign is aimed at urging drivers, teens in particular, to stay focused every time they get behind the wheel. Stop the texts. Stop the wrecks." Strickland announced the public service effort with agency partners the Ad Council and the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. Members of the OAAA will donate space to the campaign throughout the month of May, which is Global Youth Traffic Safety Month. "We are proud to have worked with NHTSA since 1983 to reduce impaired driving. From iconic taglines like 'Drinking and Driving Can Kill A Friendship,' and 'Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk' we have produced strong messages and activated a wide media network to make a real difference," said Ad Council President & CEO Peggy Conlon. OAAA said the "Stop the Texts. Stop the Wrecks" campaign launched in October 2011 in response to the number of fatalities caused by distracted driving. According to a national survey conducted by the Ad Council (June 2012), young adult drivers have absorbed several key messages since the launch of the campaign: -51 percent of young adult drivers report that they are "extremely concerned" about their peers texting while driving, which represents an increase of seven percent since September 2011. -34 percent percent of respondents said that they never text while driving, a significant increase from 28 percent percent in 2011. OAAA is a national trade association for the out of home (OOH) advertising industry. More information: oaaa.org www.nhtsa.gov adcouncil.org ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]