Russell Wilson takes on teen texting and driving
Dec 5, 2012, 7:55 AM | Updated: 9:20 am
(AP Photo)
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is tackling a new challenge off the field: teen texting and driving.
The amazing rookie is lending his talents to a new campaign encouraging students at four Seattle high schools to pledge not to text and drive.
Wilson has partnered with Verizon Wireless on the “Save it Seattle” campaign that includes West Seattle, Franklin, Roosevelt and Chief Sealth High Schools. He’ll visit with students in January at the school that gets the most pledges.
“Just like football, your eyes and hands are critical to safe driving. That’s why I take this pledge to stop texting and driving,” Wilson says in the video posted on a new website where students can sign up for the pledge.
Research finds 13 percent of drivers under 20 involved in car wrecks in 2011 admitted to texting or talking on their mobile phones at the time of the accident, while a troubling 77 percent are very or somewhat confident they can safely text and drive.