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ADOT, GEICO partner to offer rest area Safe Phone Zones

ADOT, GEICO partner to offer rest area Safe Phone Zones

I-17 101 traffic interchange

ADOT, GEICO partner to offer rest area Safe Phone Zones

ADOT, GEICO partner to offer rest area Safe Phone Zones

December 22, 2017

PHOENIX – As drivers take to Arizona’s highways over the holidays, Arizona Department of Transportation rest area Safe Phone Zones sponsored by GEICO encourage motorists to pull off the road before using smartphones for talking, texting and more.

“Even a moment’s distraction can be deadly,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “We are at our best as drivers when we are focused on the road, rested and sober. Using Safe Phone Zones at rest areas allows drivers to stay connected in a safe way.”

Taking your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel or mind off the task of driving is a hazard, regardless of the reason for doing so. Texting while driving is an especially great concern because it distracts visually, manually and cognitively. During the 5 seconds a person can look away from the road to send or receive a text, a car going 55 mph can travel the length of a football field.

The ADOT partnership began in 2014, with GEICO sponsoring Safe Phone Zones at 14 rest areas to encourage drivers to safely and conveniently use their phones and other mobile devices for calling, texting, navigating and accessing mobile apps. Signs bearing the GEICO logo alert motorists to Safe Phone Zones at each rest area.

GEICO has similar partnerships with Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Texas.

More facts and tips on ways to avoid distracted driving can be found at SafePhoneZone.com as well as at Geico.com/More.

For more information about the Safe Phone Zones partnership, visit azdot.gov/SafePhoneZone.

To join the conversation on social media, use #GEICOSafePhoneZone.

ADOT and GEICO remind motorists to use ‘Safe Phone Zones’ at Arizona rest areas

ADOT and GEICO remind motorists to use ‘Safe Phone Zones’ at Arizona rest areas

I-17 101 traffic interchange

ADOT and GEICO remind motorists to use ‘Safe Phone Zones’ at Arizona rest areas

ADOT and GEICO remind motorists to use ‘Safe Phone Zones’ at Arizona rest areas

May 25, 2016

PHOENIX – As Arizonans venture out for Memorial Day weekend, state transportation officials remind drivers to avoid all distractions while on the road – getting out and about and home safely – and make use of Arizona’s “Safe Phone Zones.”

Through a 2014 sponsorship with GEICO Insurance, Arizona has designated 14 rest area locations as “Safe Phone Zones,” where drivers can safely and conveniently use their phones and other mobile devices for calling, texting, navigating and accessing mobile apps.

June 10 marks the second anniversary of “Safe Phone Zones” in the state, and Arizona Department of Transportation Director John S. Halikowski said drivers need to be cautious on Arizona’s roads this holiday season.

“Distractions when driving can be deadly,” Halikowski said. “Tragedy can strike in the split second it takes to glance at a text, look at a map or take a bite of a burger. Arizona is a state of great beauty, so take a few minutes and pull into an ADOT rest area to stretch, look out at the mountains and catch up on your texts. It might be a lifesaving decision.”

Highway signs identifying the facilities as “Safe Phone Zones” and carrying the sponsor logo are placed in advance of the rest areas, reminding motorists to pull off in order to use their cellphones and tablets – safely.

“People are connected to their mobile devices today more than ever, and an unfortunate side effect of that is the rise in accidents attributed to distracted driving,” said Ted Ward, GEICO vice president of marketing. “We believe ‘Safe Phone Zones’ reflect GEICO’s commitment to protecting drivers by offering them a safe place off the roadways where they can check emails, make calls and view texts. We are proud to expand our support of this sponsorship in 2016 to help make the highways safe for all drivers.”

For more information on Safe Phone Zones and Transportation Safety in Arizona, visit azdot.gov/safephonezone.