CAMDEN, N.J., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Allstate's X
the TXT social initiative is partnering with the Jonas Brothers'
"Road Dogs" softball tour to raise teen awareness about the dangers
of texting while driving and to encourage young people and their
families to pledge not to text and drive. The 12-city tour is
headed to the Philly metro area where the Road Dogs will be playing
ball in support of X the TXT. The game is on Friday, Aug. 27, in Camden, NJ, at Campbell's Field where the Road
Dogs will be taking on the Marquis Jet Flyers. All Road Dogs games
are free and open to the public. Tickets are limited to each
stadium's capacity. The gates open at 11:00
a.m. and the game starts at 12:15
p.m.
Road Dogs started when the Jonas Brothers played recreational
softball games while on tour in 2009. The games became very popular
with fans after one of the brothers mentioned the games on a social
media site. This year, they will be playing seven innings of
softball at minor league stadiums throughout the country. At each
venue they are working with Allstate to educate fans about the
dangers of texting and driving.
During the game, fans can join the Jonas Brothers in pledging
not to text and drive by adding their thumbprint – the symbol of
their pledge – to a banner that will be traveling with the Road
Dogs tour. Participants will receive "TXTNG KLLS" thumb bands to
wear as a reminder of their commitment. Throughout the game, fans
will also have the opportunity to win autographed t-shirts and
other prizes.
"It is really important that our fans understand just how
dangerous texting while driving is," said Kevin Jonas. "Pledging not to text and drive is
a promise to your friends, your family and yourself to keep your
eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel."
Grammy®-nominated artist Jordin
Sparks kicked off Allstate's X the TXT last November with a
29-city national tour of live pledge events, a Facebook virtual
pledge page, and a petition urging Congress to address the issue of
texting while driving. Most recently, X the TXT events were held at
each of Sparks' 29 concerts during her Battlefield tour. In
addition to Sparks, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, David
Archuleta, Jason Derulo, Meredith
Vieira, and more than 85,000 Americans have pledged not to
text and drive.
The social initiative is part of Allstate's broader efforts to
make our roads safer, especially for young drivers.
"If you text while driving, you are 23 times more likely to
crash. Our young drivers are especially susceptible to this risk
due to the pressure to stay in constant contact with
friends," said Joan Walker,
senior vice president of corporate relations at Allstate. "By
encouraging teens to change this dangerous behavior,
Allstate hopes to save young people's lives."
Texting is one of the most dangerous distractions facing drivers
today, particularly among teens, of which car crashes are the
number one killer. According to a recent Allstate Foundation study,
49 percent of driving teens admit to being extremely distracted by
texting and instant messaging while driving. And, the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports driver distraction
contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic
crashes.
Allstate hopes more people will join the cause in urging
Congress to create stronger laws, not just to ban texting while
driving, but to make young drivers safer drivers. One way to do
this is through the enactment of the Safe Teen and Novice Driver
Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act (H.R. 1895, S. 3269), which would
require states to pass and enforce minimum standards for graduated
driver licensing (GDL) laws. The STANDUP Act is currently awaiting
Congressional approval.
To take the pledge not to text and drive or for more information
about the tour, visit www.facebook.com/XtheTXT.
Full details about upcoming
game:
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Friday, August 27
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Campbell's Field
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401 N. Delaware
Avenue
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Camden, NJ 08102 |
1-866-742-7579
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Gates open at 11:00 a.m.; Game
starts at 12:15 p.m.
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|
|
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A full listing of game dates and
locations follows:
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August 6: Joliet,
Ill.
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August 13: New Britain,
Conn.
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August 19: Brooklyn,
N.Y.
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August 21: Islip,
N.Y.
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August 23: Newark,
N.J.
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August 26: Brockton,
Mass.
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August 27: Camden,
N.J.
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September 7: Jupiter,
Fla.
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September 11: Houston,
Texas
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September 12: Frisco,
Texas
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September 18: San Jose,
Cal.
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September 19: Irvine,
Cal.
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About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest
publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the
"You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate is
reinventing protection and retirement to help more than 17 million
households insure what they have today and better prepare for
tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home,
life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies,
independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial
representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and
1-800 Allstate®.
SOURCE Allstate
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