New public service announcements combatting distracted while driving will feature a well-known "Glee" character.
The chilling PSAs consist of a scene from the hit Fox show in which the character of Quinn Fabray, played by Dianna Agron, becomes involved in a car crash as a result of looking at a text instead of the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers who read text messages while behind the wheel lose their focus for an average of five seconds, enough time to drive the entire length of a football field.
The high-profile TV spots were announced jointly by US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the NHTSA, the Ad Council, Fox Home Entertainment, and the State Attorneys General and Consumer Protection Agencies. They are part of the larger "Stop the Texts. Stop the Wrecks" campaign that started in October 2011.
"Distracted driving is an epidemic on our roadways, and our youngest and most inexperienced drivers are often the most at risk," Ray LaHood said in a statement. "Young people across the country watch 'Glee,' and we're thrilled to partner with the show to spread the word that texting and driving don't mix. I thank the Ad Council, Ryan Murphy, and the cast of 'Glee' for their continued efforts to raise awareness about this issue."
"This was a story we wanted to tell because we know the influence our show can have in starting conversations and raising awareness," "Glee" executive producer and co-creator Ryan Murphy said. "We were inspired by Oprah Winfrey's campaign encouraging everyone to sign a pledge not to text and drive, which we all signed when we did her show a few years ago, and we had been looking for an opportunity to tell the story of how a few seconds of carelessness could have a devastating impact on people's lives. We've already heard from thousands of our fans how this story touched them, and we loved the idea of a PSA campaign to keep this important issue front and center."
The NHTSA says that at least 3,092 people were killed in 2010 as the result of distractions while driving, a figure that accounts for roughly one in every ten national road deaths.
See the video to watch the PSA.
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