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Ball, frustrated by how often she has observed people driving with their hands off the wheel, using their phone or texting, felt she needed to do something to increase public awareness in the community of the dangers of distracted driving.
“Using a multi-tiered community wide approach involving the police department and politicians we can come together as a town and recognize how dangerous this is and prevent tragedy before it has a chance to occur," Ball said.
In early August, Ball had vehicle magnets created that displayed the message “Drop It & Drive In Darien.” She then went to the Darien Police Department Traffic Division to help her in expanding the program.
Since then, the Darien Police Commission has enthusiastically endorsed the use of the magnets on all of the marked patrol vehicles and the Darien Police Association has made a donation to have more magnets created.
In the future, Ball would like to see all of the municipal vehicles in town displaying the message, but for now she says she is happy with the campaign’s progress.
Eventually Ball hopes that the campaign can grow far beyond just magnets as more people and organizations get involved.
She envisions a larger marketing effort and the implementation of educational programs in schools at various levels. “We hope that by creating this visible statement - and encouraging drivers to make a personal pledge to be safer on the roads - our whole community will be safer, in turn.”
For a donation of $1.00, the magnets can be obtained at the following distribution points:
· Darien Police Department – 25 Hecker Ave.
· Darien Town Hall - Renshaw Road
· Darien Library - 1441 Post Road
· Depot Teen Center - 25 Heights Road
· Barrett Book Store - 314 Heights Road
· UPS Store - 25 Old Kings Highway N.
· Wild Birds Unlimited - 356 Heights Road
· The Healthy Child - 745 Post Road
Donations to the campaign can also be made by contacting Whitney Ball at dropitanddrive@outlook.com.
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