"Don't Text & Drive" Pledge Debuts In Conjunction With The Mercury Insurance Open, July 30-Aug. 7 At La Costa

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 15, 2011) – Millions of drivers endanger themselves and the lives of others by texting while driving.  It happens every day.  With distracted driving seemingly reaching epidemic proportions, Mercury Insurance today announced its “Don’t Text and Drive Pledge” designed to educate the public about the perils and consequences of texting while driving.

“Mercury has always been a community-focused company and we believe we need to do as much as we can to help keep our roads and highways as safe as possible, which is why we are encouraging all drivers to go to www.mercuryinsuranceopen.com  and sign the Don’t Text and Drive Pledge,” said Erik Thompson, advertising director for Mercury Insurance. “Mercury Insurance supports events like the WTA tournament at La Costa so we can inform the public about topics that impact their daily lives. The Don’t Text and Drive Pledge campaign will educate the public and hopefully help minimize distracted driving accidents, which will lead to lower car insurance rates.”

Thompson said Mercury will use sporting events such as the Mercury Insurance Open, July 30-Aug. 7 at La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, CA, as well as social media avenues like Facebook and Twitter to help spread the word about the dangers of texting and driving.

“What’s really alarming is teenage texting and driving has become so prevalent,” he said. “It’s a leading cause of car accidents for teens and it claims thousands of lives each year…yet most people confess to doing it.”

The good news, according to Thompson, is there’s a simple solution: “Don’t text and drive! Talk to your kids, friends and family about the consequences of texting while driving, and get involved by signing Mercury’s Don’t Text and Drive Pledge.”

Tennis fans and drivers of all ages can sign the Pledge and learn more about this critical issue by visiting www.mercuryinsuranceopen.com.

ABOUT MERCURY INSURANCE (www.mercuryinsurance.com)

Mercury Insurance (MCY) is a multiple-line insurance organization offering predominantly personal automobile and homeowners insurance through a network of independent agents in California, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, Arizona, New York, Georgia, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Virginia and Pennsylvania.  Since 1962, Mercury has specialized in offering quality insurance at affordable prices – core values that distinguish Mercury in the marketplace.