WOODBURY, Minn.–Ideal Credit Union has received a 2018 Minnesota Credit Union Community Impact & Outreach Marketing Award for its ongoing “Stop the Texts, Stop the Wrecks” don’t text and drive awareness campaign.
Sponsored by the Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN), the award program recognizes outstanding efforts in the areas of branding, community impact and outreach, digital advertising, video, and complete marketing campaigns.
Ideal Credit Union said it launched the ongoing don’t text and drive awareness campaign after losing David Riggs, a 20-year-old employee, to a distracted driver who was texting behind the wheel. The “Stop the Texts, Stop the Wrecks” campaign targets members and the community at large, inviting them to join Ideal in taking a stand against distracted driving. By taking the pledge, the drivers agreed to not text while operating a vehicle, keep their eyes on the road at all times and encourage others to help end distracted driving.
“Ideal Credit Union is passionate about serving our members and about making an impact in the community. The issue of distracted driving is not just a growing public safety issue, it’s personal, and has had a devastating impact on our credit union family. In David’s memory, Ideal CU embraced the opportunity to help champion efforts to educate our members and the communities we serve on the dangers of distracted driving and ultimately change behaviors,” said Brian Sherrick, Ideal CU president/CEO.
The “Stop the Texts, Stop the Wrecks” campaign targets everyone who operates a motor vehicle, the parents/guardians of teen drivers, educators, law enforcement personnel, government leaders and legislators who write laws and influence public policy, and those in a position to make our roads safer. By sharing David’s tragic story and shining the spotlight on distracted driving, Ideal CU said its goal is to create greater awareness of the dangers associated with cell phone/mobile device use behind the wheel and encourage drivers to rethink their habits.
Over the last five years (2013-2017) in Minnesota, distracted or inattentive driving was a contributing factor in one in five crashes, resulting in an average of 53 deaths and 216 serious injuries each year. The Office of Traffic Safety, a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, estimates these numbers are underreported due to law enforcement’s challenge in determining distraction as a crash factor.