A grant is going to help Dutchess County teenagers sign a pledge to not text and drive.

The Dutchess County Clerk’s Office has been awarded the “Good Neighbor Citizen Grant” from State Farm. The grant produce a new Safe Driving/No-Texting pledge. The program is intended for teen motor vehicle applicants to promote the message that distracted drivers are not only a danger to themselves, but to everyone else on the road.

When new drivers are issued a learners permit the young driver and their and parent will be provided with a “Safe Driving/No-Texting Pledge”.

The pledge will be signed by both the parent and young driver. It’s intended start positive conversations between the teenager and parent on actions that drivers can take to keep themselves and others safe on the road.

According to the Dutchess County Clerk’s Office, an important component of the pledge is that teens, when surveyed, say they have seen their parent’s text and drive. Parents are also encouraged to sign and follow their own pledge

The Safe Driving/No-Texting Pledge is in part to prevent teen automobile crashes, reduce injuries and save lives. “While anything that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off the task of driving is a hazard, there is heightened concern about the risks of texting while driving because it combines all three types of distraction – visual, manual and cognitive,” County Clerk Bradford H. Kendall stated. “I encourage all motorists’ especially young drivers to keep both hands on the wheel and take the Safe Driving/No-Texting Pledge.”

“This program addresses teens at a critical time. In their first year on the road, teens are almost 10 times more likely to be in a crash,” said State Farm agent Jen Dunn. “We all benefit from students committing to the Safe Driving/No-Texting pledge.”

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