The NPG Group of stations here in Central Oregon – including News Channel 21, Fox Central Oregon, Central Oregon’s CW and Telemundo – are partnering with critical first responders, the Bend Police and Fire Departments and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department, to launch a community wide campaign called TXT L8R. In cooperation with our TXT L8R sponsors we hope to get the message out and make a difference in our community using the powerful combination of television, web, mobile and social media.

FACTS:

• At any given moment, an estimated 800,000+ Americans are texting or making calls while driving, adults as well as teens
• 4 out of 5 accidents (80%) are attributed to distracted drivers. In contrast, drunk drivers account for 1 out of 3 accidents (33%)
• People who text while driving are 23% more likely to be in a car accident

TXT L8R Campaign Goal:

• Reduce the number of FATALITIES and ACCIDENTS caused by distracted drivers in Central Oregon
• Create awareness about the dangers of texting while driving
• Challenge Central Oregon drivers to put down their phones and TXT L8R

TAKE THE TXT L8R PLEDGE HERE !

Pledge participants receive a free “I Took the Pledge” bumper sticker. Stick it on and do your part to improve the safety of Central Oregon roads.

Stop by any of the sponsors below or the KTVZ studios at 62990 OB Riley Rd for your free “I took the pledge” decal. Thank you!

TXT L8R Local Headlines

TXT L8R concert features driving course

At NewsChannel 21's TXT L8R concert, High Desert Drivers Education sets up an eye-opening course to show how dangerous texting and driving can be.

Summit High students take pledge to TXT L8R

During lunch at Summit High School, it's hard to find teens without phones in their hands -- and it often carries over to driving. NewsChannel 21 held a rally Thursday at the school, setting up computers so students could take the pledge against distracted driving.

ODOT: April is 'Distracted Driving Awareness Month'

Getting distracted while you're driving can be catastrophic: from 2009 – 2011, in Oregon, 41 people died in distracted driving crashes. Even if you were buckled up properly, obeying the speed limit and driving sober, a split-second distraction could cost a life.