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JustDrive.com 125: NASCAR comes to Jersey
MVC and NASCAR team up to stop distracted driving at New Jersey Motorsports Park
                                                                                             
(Millville) – More than ten thousand NASCAR fans at New Jersey Motorsports Park were reminded, on Saturday, September 17, of the dangers of texting and driving as they gathered for the JustDrive.com 125 – an unprecedented collaboration between the racing organization and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).

“We are thrilled to be working with NASCAR and New Jersey Motorsports Park to present the JustDrive.com 125,” said MVC Chairman and Chief Administrator Raymond P. Martinez. “We are always looking for new and innovative ways to educate motorists about the dangers of this reckless behavior.  It’s not enough to simply tell people about fines and penalties – we all have to work together to reach drivers before they get a ticket or are involved in a crash.  Our message is simple: be safe – just drive.”  

The race is a part of the NASCAR K&N Series East, a regional stock car racing series which serves as the top step in NASCAR’s developmental ladder before drivers progress to the three national series.  The race introduces fans to the next generation of racing stars and this partnership allows the MVC to promote its JustDrive.com campaign to a broad range of motorsports fans. 

“We are extremely excited to welcome the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East to NJMP this weekend,” added Mark Verrastro, New Jersey Motorsports Park general manager. “Our facility is honored to be partnering with such a great initiative as JUSTDRIVE.com for this inaugural event.”

The MVC’s JustDrive.com campaign offers a wealth of information on the laws governing cell phone use while driving in New Jersey and the risks and dangers of talking or texting behind the wheel.  In addition to an interactive website, the campaign is featured on billboards statewide, as well as in radio and TV advertisements.  The goal is to reach drivers and get them to understand how they put their lives – and the lives of others – in danger every time they touch their phones when they are behind the wheel.

A AAA study showed that talking or texting while driving is the number one distraction among newly-licensed drivers. Another study developed by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) revealed that reaching for a phone, dialing, texting and other uses of portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by three times.
                                                                                            
"Given these startling statistics, continuing to talk or text while driving is just plain irresponsible," said Martinez.

For more information, please visit www.justdrive.com.