The Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship serves the purpose of educating drivers about the perils of texting and responding to messages while driving.
It operates as a scholarship aimed at rewarding law-abiding drivers.
Moreover, many drivers tend to disregard the hazards associated with this negligent behavior. Consequently, numerous preventable automobile accidents have occurred on our roads.
Digital Responsibility has designed the Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship award with the aim of combating this societal menace.
Don’t Text And Drive Scholarship Eligibility:
- All scholarship applicants must be legal residents of the United States of America.
- Citizenship in the country is a mandatory requirement.
- There is no age limit for applicants seeking the Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship.
- The scholarship is open to both part-time and full-time students.
- Only those meeting these basic criteria can apply for the scholarship.
Don’t Text And Drive Scholarship Application (2023-24):
- Applicants should complete and submit the online application form provided.
- The application form requires the following information:
- Applicant’s grade level
- First and last name
- Home address and city
- State of residence (must be within the USA)
- Email address and phone number
- Date of birth and gender
- Graduation year and GPA
- Applicants are expected to select their preferred college or choose up to four colleges they wish to attend.
- Applicants can also choose their desired field of study from the list of available courses in the online application form.
- Prior to submission, applicants must compose a 140-character message starting with “I pledge to not text and drive because.”
- After completing these tasks, applicants can submit their applications online.
Benefits of Don’t Text and Drive Scholarship:
It Conveys a Critical Message:
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, taking your eyes off the road for just 5 seconds to send or read a text can be equivalent to covering the length of a football field when driving at 55 mph.
This scholarship emphasizes the importance of sharing this life-saving message, especially with new drivers.
It Promotes Actionable Change:
This scholarship goes beyond spreading information; it aims to drive tangible change in our daily behavior.
By actively involving ourselves and others in its mission, we have the power to reshape how society behaves while driving.
It Encourages Disconnecting:
In a world filled with constant digital distractions, this scholarship serves as a reminder that we should disconnect from our devices at times, not only for our well-being but also for safety reasons.
Facts About Texting and Driving:
Texting Multiplies the Risk:
Texting while driving makes you 23 times more likely to cause a traffic collision, as per a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
Distracted Driving Awareness Month:
April is designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, initiated by Shelley Forney, an advocate for safer driving after her daughter’s tragic death due to a distracted driver.
Teen Texting Behavior:
While 97% of teens acknowledge the danger of texting while driving, 43% of them still engage in this risky behavior, according to AT&T’s Teen Driver Survey.
Texting Bans Vary:
Some states only ban texting and driving for learner drivers.
States with this restriction include Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia. Other states ban all licensed drivers.
Take the Pledge: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers a pledge initiative to encourage driving phone-free, providing a motivating way to commit to safer driving habits.
Why Texting and Driving is Dangerous:
- Distracted Attention: Texting diverts your attention from the road.
- Ignored Traffic Signals: Texting means you might miss crucial traffic signals.
- Neglected Fellow Drivers: You may fail to notice other drivers’ actions.
- Inconsistent Speed Monitoring: Texting leads to erratic speed control.
In summary, texting and driving is exceedingly perilous, contributing to over half a million accidents annually, making it vital to prioritize road safety over distractions.