Oprah's pledge for safer roads

The Herald on Sunday is not alone in encouraging grassroots action.

We took inspiration from Oprah Winfrey who is spearheading a campaign
for safer roads.

The world's most-powerful celebrity, according to Forbes magazine, has used her star power to persuade drivers not to use their mobile phones behind the wheel.

In January, Winfrey screened a show about a 9-year-old girl killed by a driver who was texting.

The problem is widespread in the US, where laws against mobile phone usage are not as strict as in New Zealand.

Each year, 6000 Americans die and 500,000 are injured because of distracted driving.

Winfrey encouraged viewers to stop using their cellphones while driving by taking the No Phone Zone Pledge: "I will do my part to help put an end
to distracted driving by not texting or using my phone while I am driving. I will ask other drivers I know to do the same. I pledge to make a difference."

More than 400,000 people have now taken the pledge.