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Missouri State Highway Patrol Kicks Off Statewide Anti-texting Campaign with Con-way Freight and Roush Fenway Racing

                                      

Public Safety Initiative Introduces New "No Texting" Logo, Calls on All Missouri Motorists to Put Down Their Cell Phones and PDAs and Focus on Safe Driving When Behind the Wheel

ST. LOUIS - July 16, 2010 - The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) today announces the launch of a statewide public safety campaign to encourage Missouri’s motorists to put down their phones and prevent traffic crashes from the dangerous distractions caused by texting while driving.

The campaign kicked off today at a press conference in St. Louis where the MSHP unveiled a new "No Texting" logo. The logo is being provided to the public as a window-cling decal that can be displayed on windows of automobiles, homes and businesses. Joining MSHP in the campaign are trucking company Con-way Freight, one of Missouri’s largest freight carriers, and Roush Fenway Racing, one of NASCAR’s top racing teams.

The MSHP’s new "No Texting" logo is also being featured in tomorrow’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Gateway International Raceway, prominently displayed on the hood of the No. 16 Con-way Freight Ford Fusion race car piloted by Colin Braun. Con-way Freight (NYSE: CNW) is the car’s sponsor for owner Roush Fenway Racing.

"Distracted drivers cause many of the traffic injuries and deaths we deal with on our roads today, and cell phone usage - particularly texting while driving - is especially dangerous and unsafe. These tragic consequences are easily preventable if drivers would simply put down their phones and focus on the road," said Col. Ron Replogle, Missouri State Highway Patrol. "We’re joining forces with Con-way Freight and Roush Fenway Racing to spread the anti-texting message to all Missouri’s motorists and NASCAR fans, encouraging them to say no to texting and pay attention to the full-time job of driving whenever they’re behind the wheel."

Col. Replogle added that the campaign complements Missouri’s current anti-texting law, which prohibits use of cell phones or texting devices for drivers 21 years of age and younger. He called on all Missouri drivers to honor the letter and the spirit of the law - regardless of age - and stop texting while driving to help make Missouri’s highways safer for all motorists. Missouri is one of 38 states in the nation to enact anti-texting legislation.

According to MSHP statistics, cell phone usage while driving contributed to more than 1,780 traffic crashes in Missouri in 2009, more than any other form of distracted driving. In the first half of 2010, there were 791 traffic crashes related to the use of cell phones behind the wheel resulting in eight fatalities and 239 injuries. Additionally, in this same time period, there were 17,535 crashes where distracted driving has been cited as a contributing cause.

Con-way Freight, a trucking industry leader that’s been at the forefront of efforts to improve highway safety, has had a texting ban in place for its 15,000 professional truck drivers for nearly two years.

"There are three major types of distractions - visual, manual and cognitive - and texting involves all three, which makes it the most dangerous of all," said Bob Petrancosta, vice president of safety, Con-way Freight. "We’re committed to doing everything we can to help make America’s highways safer, and we hope this campaign with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Roush Fenway Racing will raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, and, potentially, save lives."

The company recently announced the rollout of 1,300 new trucks equipped with an integrated suite of high-tech driver alert and truck control technologies, all designed to reduce crashes and further improve safety performance. The company’s safety focus and desire to bring the anti-texting message to more motorists across the U.S.provided the incentive to join with the MSHP and Roush Fenway Racing in the statewide campaign announced today.

Con-way Freight has nearly 500 Missouri-based employees at service centers in St. Louis, Rolla, Springfield, Fort Scott, Poplar Bluff and Columbia. The company operates a fleet of more than 200 tractors and 560 trailers in Missouri that handle over a million freight shipments annually for Missouri businesses, traveling nearly 30 million miles annually on the state’s highways.