Date: Monday 29 June
Time: 9.30am
Location: Skid pan, Kent Police College, Coverdale Avenue, Maidstone, ME15 9DW
Seven young drivers including students from Mid Kent College are going to learn about the dangers of text messaging while driving in a series of tasks set by Kent County Council road safety officers. They will take a drive round normal obstacles like traffic lights and a zebra crossing before being challenged to complete the same course while replying to text messages.
The exercise heralds the start of the four-week ‘Safe Text’ publicity campaign to highlight the perils of text messaging for young drivers aged between 17 and 24. There’s a two week advertising campaign on Heart FM, viral film and online activity on Facebook and YouTube, and more details at www.kentsafetext.com.
KCC Cabinet Member for Highways Nick Chard said: “Text messaging while driving is dangerous. RAC and Transport Research Laboratory studies found average reaction times slowed by 35% for young drivers while texting, as well as drivers drifting out of their lane and losing steering control. Don’t do it – it’s common sense.”
Get the message – ‘Don’t text while driving’
The exercise heralds the start of the four-week ‘Safe Text’ publicity campaign to highlight the perils of text messaging for young drivers aged between 17 and 24. There’s a two week advertising campaign on Heart FM, viral film and online activity on Facebook and YouTube, and more details at 
