TOADD and Metro PCS team up to produce 1st Annual Safe Summer Block Party

May 9, 2012 - PRLog -- Texting while driving has grown into a huge issue in the United States in recent years.  With rising incidences of deaths as a result from texting while driving, the Texting Organization Against Distracted Driving, TOADD, announced the first annual Safe Summer Block Party that will take place on Saturday, May 19th at the Gallery at South Dekalb Mall in Decatur, GA.  In recognition of May as National Youth Traffic Safety Month, TOADD founder Marie Antoinette Burrell states; "The end of school starts the beginning of the deadliest months for teen drivers. Today's tech savvy youth are connected in a way that no other generation has experienced. Let's allow advances in technology to take us to great places, not to the grave because of texting and driving."

A study by the American Automobile Association discovered that 46% of teens admitted to being distracted behind the wheel because of texting. While celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey have campaigned against texting while driving, there are reports that the message has not been getting through to teenagers. TOADD’s objective is to get the message to teenagers in the Atlanta area about the seriousness and dangers of texting while driving.  TOADD has a goal to get local middle and high school students to take the “tadpole” pledge of texting responsibly.

Dekalb County was selected as the inaugural metro Atlanta County to host the Safe Summer Block Party due to the growing number of traffic accidents in the area caused by texting while driving.  As the statistics in Dekalb County continue to rise, local officials are paying closer attention to the fatalities resulting from improper cell phone usage.  “Texting while driving is a crime in DeKalb County and can cause fatal traffic accidents.  We should all educate our friends and family members, especially young drivers, on using cell phones responsibly,” said DeKalb Chief Executive Officer, Burrell Ellis.

The Safe Summer Block Party is a free event featuring safe texting awareness activities, games and entertainment. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. on May 19, showcasing young musical guests including: DJ Priest, Malachiae,   EZ Snap and other local talent. For more information, please visit www.toadd.org.

TOADD is a 501 (c ) (3) non- profit organization that advocates responsible cell phone usage. TOADD’s vision is to encourage responsible cell phone use with the purpose of creating a safer mobile environment. TOADD’s mission is to save lives and spread awareness about a growing epidemic, texting while driving, which can and will kill millions.