Your California car insurance policy will cover you if you get in an accident, but are you taking all the precautions available to make sure that doesn't happen? Everyone knows texting while driving is a danger to you and others - yet a number of people continue to take the risk. It's the leading cause of accidents among teenagers and each year causes thousands of deaths on the road. Mercury Insurance has launched a "Don't Text and Drive" community outreach program designed to educate drivers about the risks of texting while driving in an effort to keep you safer on the road.

Millions of drivers hit the road everyday and put themselves - and others - in danger by texting while driving. Studies reveal that:

• Texting while driving reduces your reaction time as much as if you were driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 of higher - legally intoxicated
• You're four times more likely to get in an accident when texting while driving
• More than 49% of adults say they have been in a car with a driver who was sending or reading text messages
• Almost 86% of teens admit to texting while driving

(Study information from "Don't Text and Drive" - http://www.mercuryinsuranceopen.com/Pledge.aspx)

Mercury is encouraging all drivers to work towards lowering these alarming statistics by signing the "Don't Text and Drive" Pledge. The pledge states that you won't read or send text messages while driving, will follow the law about phone usage in vehicles, will support law enforcement's efforts to reduce distracted driving, and perhaps most importantly will be a positive role model for family, friends, and anyone who may be in the car with you. Visit the website to "Pledge Now" - do your part to reduce the number of accidents and lives lost.