The Home Page Network

Today’s feature story on Wellsboro Home Page is one the most important stories that we have covered. Indigo Wireless sponsored the, National Save A Life Tour, presented at Wellsboro High School Monday morning. Andrew Tipton was the main speaker for the event. Andrew and his associates travel throughout the country with this safe driving message. David Tews of Indigo Wireless said, “the most encouraging thing for me is that I believe the students attending today actually got the message.” Most of the young people present were paying very careful attention to what was being said.

Tipton reminded the students that driving is a privilege. He also pointed out that it is the most dangerous activity in the United States. Over 425,000 people were injured this past year in auto accidents. Tipton went on to say that distracted driving was the number one killer in vehicle related crashes. He said that it’s worse than drug related accidents, drunk driving, and deaths involving guns. In fact, every single day approximately 14 people die because of DWD (driving while distracted) accidents. That’s over 5,000 people a year, dead, because of things like texting. Most of the time a distracted driving death is caused because someone decided to look at a text message received while driving.

When we are driving a motor vehicle we are suppose to be focussed on driving. When we decide that the phone call, email or text is more important than anything else then we are in serious trouble. We put ourselves, our families, and others in danger of loosing their life or sustaining a devastating injury.

David Tews of Indigo Wireless, who sponsored this event, said, “distracted driving is a very, very important message to get across to our youth, actually everybody in our community, the older people, the younger people, everybody.” Indigo Wireless has invested heavily in our community. They are involved in sponsoring numerous events and organizations here in Tioga County. Indigo is one of our top sponsors here at Wellsboro Home Page and enables us to do what we do. But, with all the good things that they are involved in Mr. Tews told us that there is nothing more important than getting this message across. He said that Indigo is part of the wireless industry and that it’s a great industry. He continued by saying that cell phones are a fantastic tool but that they are a dangerous piece of equipment, as well. Tews said that the warning against distracted driving and texting and driving is an important message for these kids to get.

The students we talked to at the event were very observant and seemed to track the, drive safe – texting can wait message well. Many of them took the following pledge. We encourage our Wellsboro Home Page viewers to do so as well. Here it is… I pledge to never give in, to never let my phone win, by not tempting fate, I will power down and concentrate, I know the text and call can wait.

For more information about this important message and the, Save A Live Tour, please go to www.savealifetour.net.