An industry-wide effort by the National Body Council (NABC) to save lives received strong support at the recent SkillsUSA conference in Kansas City, where more than 1,000 students, parents and conference attendees signed a pledge not to text and drive.
Partnering with AT&T to promote the nationwide It Can Wait campaign, NABC hosted a driving simulator that enabled individuals to personally experience the dangers of texting and driving. This was the highest number of pledges collected at a single event with the simulator this year.
NABC’s Distracted Driving Initiative was created to focus industry attention on one of the most important issues facing our communities today.
“Our collision industry knows far too well the impact of texting and driving,” said Chuck Sulkala, NABC executive director. “We urge our colleagues to do everything we can to increase public awareness and educate drivers of all ages on the dangers of inattentive and distracted driving.”
Examples of public awareness activities recommended by the NABC for collision industry businesses to implement in local communities include:
- Host a rally and pledge drive. Set up an informational table at a local high school event, i.e., football game, at a shopping mall or any other site popular with young drivers.
- Host an open house at your business location. Serve refreshments. Invite insurance agents, customers, community groups, etc. Set up a computer or iPad for guests to take the It Can Wait pledge right there on the spot.
- Add a flyer and pledge form to all paperwork when returning vehicles after repair.
- Partner with local businesses to give discount coupons for a car wash, restaurant, etc., for anyone who comes in to take the pledge.
- Consider putting a total loss vehicle on display in front of your shop, with signage urging people to stop texting and driving.
- Launch a public awareness campaign on your social media platforms.
“We’re proud to be a Diamond member of NABC and help share the driver safety awareness initiatives and community service programs through the CARSTAR network to reach more people all over country,” said Dan Young, senior vice president of insurance relations for CARSTAR and chair of NABC’s Distracted Driving Initiative. “We restated our commitment to the partnership with NABC and the Distracted Driving initiative at our recent CARSTAR conference in Puerto Rico. Already we have had 11 CARSTAR stores request to join NABC so they could participate in tremendous programs like Recycled Rides, First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.) and the Distracted Driving Initiative. Together with the NABC, we can make our roads safer for everyone.”
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