Metro Detroiters To Pledge To "X" The Text

WATERFORD (WWJ) - An event being held in Waterford Saturday will warn about the dangers of texting while driving.

WWJ's Terri Lee reports that The latest statistics available from the U.S. Department of Transportation show that 20 percent of injury accidents were caused by distracted driving. And, drivers who use hand-held devices are four times more likely to get into a serious accident. While safety experts say texting while driving is like driving under the influence of four beers, some people do it daily.

To help change these statistics and make roads safer, Allstate is partnering with the Waterford Coalition for Youth and Safety at Saturday's event aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of texting while driving.

While the benefits of driving with your eyes on the road and both hands on the steering wheel should be enough of a reward, everyone who attends will have a chance to win gift cards and MP3 players. Attendees also will have an opportunity to experience a driving simulator at the event.

The event is being held at the Oakland Schools Conference Center, 2111 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford. It runs from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.