DOT Releases 'OMG' PSA Against Distracted Driving

By Adrianna McGinley

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is expanding their effort to warn teens against distracted driving with the release of its “OMG” public service announcement.

The DOT unveiled the PSA Monday, which will play on 6,589 movie screens at 526 Regal Cinemas and 12,000 high-traffic gas pump screens across the country.

“There is no better time to be reminded of this vital message than during those five minutes our viewers are stopped at the pump,” said Nathan Gill from Outcast’s PumpTop TV.

Using popular texting acronyms like “L8R,” “OMG” and “LOL,” the PSA is directly targeting young drivers who are more likely to use their mobile phones to text while driving.

“Teen drivers are particularly vulnerable to distracted driving which is why we are making an extra effort to ensure they understand the dangers,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We’re reaching teens directly, whether they’re at the movies or filling up their tanks, to emphasize the importance of keeping their eyes on the road, their hands on the wheel, and their focus on driving at all times.”

Parents and teens can watch the PSA and “The Faces of Distracted Driving” videos at the DOT’s redesigned website, www.distraction.gov. At the site, teen drivers will find tools to spread the word, including a program that can be spearheaded by students themselves called “Students Against Distracted Driving” (SADD).

Since the launch of the campaign against distracted driving in 2009, 37 states and territories have outlawed text messaging while driving. Eleven states and territories have banned all hand-held phone use while driving.