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Letter to the Editor

Jonas Brothers Invite Fans to Take Allstate's X the TXT Pledge

"Road Dogs" started when the Jonas Brothers played recreational softball games while on tour in 2009. The games became very popular with fans after one of the brothers mentioned the games on a social media site. This year, they will be playing seven innings of softball at minor league stadiums throughout the country. At each venue they are working with Allstate to educate fans about the dangers of texting and driving.

During games, fans can join the Jonas Brothers in pledging not to text and drive by adding their thumbprint – the symbol of their pledge – to a banner that will be traveling with the "Road Dogs" tour. Participants will receive "TXTNG KLLS" thumb bands to wear as a reminder of their commitment. Throughout the games, fans will also have the opportunity to win autographed t-shirts and other prizes.

"It is really important that our fans understand just how dangerous texting while driving is," said Kevin Jonas. "Pledging not to text and drive is a promise to your friends, your family and yourself to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel."

Grammy-nominated artist Jordin Sparks kicked off Allstate's "X the TXT" last November with a 29-city national tour of live pledge events, a Facebook virtual pledge page, and a petition urging Congress to address the issue of texting while driving. Most recently, "X the TXT" events were held at each of Sparks' 29 concerts during her Battlefield tour. In addition to Sparks, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, David Archuleta, Jason Derulo, Meredith Vieira, and more than 85,000 Americans have pledged not to text and drive.

The social initiative is part of Allstate's broader efforts to make our roads safer, especially for young drivers.

"If you text while driving, you are 23 times more likely to crash. Our young drivers are especially susceptible to this risk due to the pressure to stay in constant contact with friends," said Joan Walker, senior vice president of corporate relations at Allstate. "By encouraging teens to change this dangerous behavior, Allstate hopes to save young people's lives."

Texting is one of the most dangerous distractions facing drivers today, particularly among teens, of which car crashes are the number one killer. According to a recent Allstate Foundation study, 49 percent of driving teens admit to being extremely distracted by texting and instant messaging while driving. And, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports driver distraction contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes.

Allstate hopes more people will join the cause in urging Congress to create stronger laws, not just to ban texting while driving, but to make young drivers safer drivers. One way to do this is through the enactment of the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act (H.R. 1895, S. 3269), which would require states to pass and enforce minimum standards for graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws. The STANDUP Act is currently awaiting Congressional approval.

To take the pledge not to text and drive or for more information about the tour, visit www.facebook.com/XtheTXT.

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