The National Auto Body Council (NABC) has announced the availability of a Distracted Driving Presentation Toolkit to help its members drive home the “don’t text and drive” message in local communities nationwide during April, which is designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Developed in partnership with AT&T’s It Can Wait campaign, the toolkit contains key resources needed to easily host and implement distracted driving awareness events:
- Set of virtual reality goggles
- Earphones
- Interactive PowerPoint program presentation
- Facilitator’s guide
“April is the start of one of the most dangerous time of the year for teens on the road as they celebrate high school proms and graduations shortly afterwards,” said Anthony Natale, chair of NABC’s Distracted Driving Initiative. “Our goal with these kits is to make it as easy as possible for our members and others in the collision industry to host ongoing awareness events in their communities, as often as possible, to remind and encourage drivers of all ages to make a pledge not to text and drive.”
NABC’s new Distracted Driving Presentation Kits were piloted at several community events by Seidner’s Collision Centers in the Los Angeles area and received overwhelming positive feedback from participants and hosts. The awareness events were hosted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department as part of its Youth Activity League and Explorer Troop programs.
Following activity guidelines in NABC’s Distracted Driving Kit, the 45-minute presentation took the students through a hands-on exercise to demonstrate the difficulties of multitasking while driving, followed by videos and virtual reality experience that dramatically drove home the dangers of texting and driving.
According to Gene Lopez of Seidner’s Collision Centers, who conducted the pilot presentations, the students were engaged throughout the presentation.
“Based on their many comments and questions, we feel confident that many of the students will make the commitment not to text and drive, and will take the message home to encourage their parents and siblings to do the same,” said Lopez.
Added Arlo Johnson, co-chair of the Distracted Driving Initiative, “Those of us in the collision industry know all too well the physical and emotional impact from car accidents. We are in the unique position of taking the leadership role and urge our colleagues to join with us to deliver this important message in your local communities.”
The Distracted Driving Presentation Kits are available to NABC members at no charge with a nominal shipping and handling fee of $12. To order the kits, complete the online request form at www.NationalAutoBodyCouncil.org.
