AKRON (Sept. 18, 2013) — Goodyear is joining the "It Can Wait" campaign, agreeing to promote via its fleet of blimps the national education and awareness campaign encouraging people never to text while driving.
Goodyear's fleet of blimps will carry messaging on Sept. 19 to coincide with the It Can Wait movement's Drive 4 Pledges Day.
The messaging to be carried on the blimps is intended to increase attention for the It Can Wait campaign, Goodyear said, which has inspired more than 2.5 million pledges never to text and drive since its inception in August 2012.
On Pledge Day, Goodyear is also engaging its associates in making the pledge to refrain from texting and driving. Goodyear's safety policy has prohibited texting while driving in company-owned vehicles since 2010.
"Goodyear is joining the pledge campaign to increase attention around the significant risks associated with texting while driving," said Paul Fitzhenry, Goodyear' senior vice president, global communications.
"It Can Wait conveys a simple but powerful message and aligns with Goodyear's priority to promote safety on our roads through programs that increase safety awareness and encourage safe behaviors."
Goodyear blimps started carrying the It Can Wait messaging in May over major events such as the NBA Finals, U.S. Open golf, NASCAR Sprint Cup races, the X Games, multiple Major League Baseball contests and college football games exposing the message to hundreds of thousands.
"This year It Can Wait has maintained focus and gained momentum by aligning with hundreds of like-minded supporters bringing a simple message — It Can Wait — no text is worth a life," said Michelle Kuckelman, executive director of brand management for AT&T Inc., one of four national cell phone carriers involved in It Can Wait.
"Support from advocates like Goodyear is key to raising awareness of this dangerous behavior," she added.
The three blimps, based in Pompano Beach, Fla., Carson, Calif., and Akron, travel on average a combined 50,000 miles a year and will display messages to millions of people over a wide variety of public appearances.
For more information on the It Can Wait campaign, visit www.ItCanWait.com.