The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with AAA-sponsored professional race car driver Michael Cenzi to protect Collier County’s streets from texting drivers.
“It’s time to stop talking, it’s time to stop texting and it’s time to start saving lives,” Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said at a news conference Friday.
Sheriff Rambosk has teamed up with Cenzi, along with AAA and The Auto Club South Traffic Safety Foundation, for a series of public service announcements discouraging the use of cell phones while driving.
The campaign, which carries the message: “Stay Focused: Don’t Text and Drive,” seeks to bring awareness, education and the pursuit of legislation for a ban on texting while driving in Florida.
Sheriff Rambosk said safe driving requires people to focus on the road and not on their cell phone.
“The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is proud to join forces with Michael Cenzi Racing, AAA and The Auto Club South Traffic Safety Foundation to spread the anti-texting message to all Collier County motorists and racing fans, encouraging them to say no to texting and pay attention to the full-time job of driving whenever they’re behind the wheel,” Sheriff Rambosk said.
In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in crashes involving driver distraction, and an estimated 448,000 were injured, according to the National Transportation Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Cenzi, of Golden Gate Estates, is in his 12th year as a race car driver. Through his partnership with AAA and The Auto Club South Traffic Safety Foundation, Cenzi is committed to raising awareness about the dangers of texting while driving.
The Palmetto Ridge High School graduate said he is excited about his new partnership with CCSO. He hopes to use the “Stay Focused: Don’t Text and Drive” campaign to reach out to teens, who are especially vulnerable to distracted driving because of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
“It is very tempting to utilize these mobile apps instead of staying fully focused on the road ahead,” Cenzi said. “As a teenager myself, I will focus on talking to my peers about how a few seconds of inattention can lead to life-long devastation.
Teen drivers are more likely than other age groups to be involved in a fatal crash where distraction is reported. In 2009, 16 percent of teen drivers involved in a fatal crash were reported to have been distracted, according to the NHTSA.
Specifically for teens, AAA offers programs to educate new drivers and provides tools to make them feel more confident behind the wheel. As an additional driving safety measure, AAA allows members to enroll their teen with a learner’s permit for free. More information is available at www.TeenDriving.AAA.com.
“I enjoy keeping up with my friends, but when I’m driving, the text or call can wait. It’s not worth my life,” Cenzi said.
This attitude is also critical as a race car driver, Cenzi said.
“Hitting speeds of over 100 mph, I understand how important it is to stay fully focused anytime I’m behind the wheel,” he said. “People die because they think they can multi-task while driving. But driving requires your hands, eyes and mind working together in order for you and others to be safe on the road.”
Texting while driving presents a “triple threat,” David Pojero, Southwest Florida AAA area executive, said at the news conference.
“While grooming may take one hand off the wheel, texting takes your hands, your mind and your eyes off the road,” Pojero said.
Kathryn Teears, 17, and Katelyn Soto, 15, both attended the news conference. They agreed that the Sheriff’s Office’s partnership with Cenzi will have an influence on teens when it comes to texting and driving.
“It’s almost like a friend coming up to you and confronting you about it,” said Soto, a sophomore at Palmetto Ridge High School in Golden Gate Estates. “I think teens will listen.”
Teears, a junior at Palmetto Ridge, said she has a “designated texter’’ when she drives, and it’s usually Soto, her best friend, but only if something important comes up.
“None of my conversations are so important that they can’t wait,” Teears said.
In addition to the public service announcements, Sheriff Rambosk and Cenzi will be making a series of public appearances promoting the “Stay Focused: Don’t Text and Drive” campaign
Cenzi and his no. 92 AAA Super Late Model race car joined Sheriff Rambosk and a large CCSO contingent at the 2011 Swamp Buggy Parade in Naples in late October. The Sheriff and Cenzi will team up again at the City of Naples 2011 Christmas Parade on Dec. 6.
Cenzi will also promote the campaign at a series of speaking engagements at high schools around Collier County. Sheriff Rambosk will join him as his schedule allows.
Click here to watch the public service announcement featuring Sheriff Kevin Rambosk and Michael Cenzi.
Click here to watch a CCSO video of today’s news conference.
