Description: The Pledge Wants You! The Pledge's call for personal responsibility behind the wheel is a great message, but it would have limited impact without self-starting, courageous grassroots activists who get that message heard. People like Pledge founder Sherry Williams, who motivated the Charlotte police department to distribute "Take the Pledge" contracts to each and every speeder they encounter on the road. Or Marita Mathie, who held her own one-woman "Pledge" rally at a local fair in New Hampshire, distributing decals and prompting passersby to take the Pledge. These and others are the catalysts for positive change nationwide, turning the power of one into the power of millions. Each neighborhood needs a spark - someone willing to get out and inspire their friends and neighbors to make a commitment to safer driving. You can be that spark - the force that unites the community and leads the charge to safer neighborhood streets and saved lives…
TAKE THE PLEDGE CONTEST UPDATE! Thank you to all those who Took the Pledge to slow down, and entered our contest to sign up the most Pledge-takers. Our contest winner has won a $5,000 community safety initiative funded by Autobytel, and we will announce the winner soon, so please check back for more information. The Pledge In Action Concerned by the increasing danger that speeding cars posed to the families in her Charlotte, North Carolina neighborhood, Sherry Williams posted a simple, homemade sign in her front yard encouraging passersby to "Take The Pledge and Limit Your Speed." She also asked each of her friends to tell five friends about her Pledge (and to ask these friends to ask five of their friends, etc). Her message struck a welcome chord in her local community --- which is home to three public schools --- and quickly sparked a far-reaching groundswell of support. From this grassroots beginning, The Pledge was born. As a direct result of the Pledge campaign, over 2,000 Take the Pledge to Slow Down campaign decals, have been placed on all Charlotte Police Department vehicles. The Department is also instructing its officers to actively encourage Charlotte drivers, particularly speeders, to take "the Pledge," a signed contract to drive safely and courteously on neighborhood streets. Autobytel is also providing a prominent Charlotte circuit court judge with Pledge certificates to support his policy of asking all traffic offenders who enter his courtroom to take the Pledge. In Los Angeles, over 2,000 Take the Pledge to Slow Down campaign decals and over one hundred lawn signs have been distributed by Los Angeles Police Safety Officers in schools throughout the city. The very good news is that speeding has dramatically decreased in Sherry's neighborhood. The even BETTER news is that Sherry's neighborhood is just the beginning… Since Autobytel's national Pledge campaign has gone live on , , and , thousands of concerned citizens from coast to coast have taken the Pledge online. The goal of safer communities and saved lives begins with you. By taking the Pledge--and encouraging your friends, family and road-mates to do the same--you'll be helping to raise awareness of the potentially deadly impact of speeding and careless driving. You'll also serve as a shining example for a better, happier and safer America--a place where everyone "drives like they would in their neighborhood." --- Take the Pledge! A Message From Sherry Williams Dear Take the Pledge Supporters, Courteous driving is a decision -- one that we all have the power to make. I'd like to thank everyone who has encouraged drivers across the country to Take the Pledge. I would especially like to thank those who are working to involve local government officials and police departments. It is your effort that will help improve neighborhoods and save lives nationwide. Unsafe (reckless) driving cannot be legislated away. Real, lasting change comes from within -- a result of a daily commitment to drive conscientiously and safely. This sense of personal responsibility is the mission of Take the Pledge. Slowly (no pun intended), but surely, hearts and minds are being won in neighborhoods across America -- one driver at a time. With everyone’s help, Take the Pledge is making a difference. We look forward to a day when Americans no longer accept driving over the speed limit, especially on neighborhood streets and city streets, as a "part of daily life." Thanks to you and to Autobytel for turning the power of one into the power of millions! Sherry Williams, Founder Take the Pledge Charlotte, North Carolina Recent Events Los Angeles, California Thursday October 10th, 2002 Take the Pledge to Slow Down made its West Coast premiere at an October 10th community safe driving rally in Los Angeles hosted by L.A. City Councilmember Tom LaBonge. Speakers included L.A. Fire Department Chief Mario Rueda and representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department. Academy Award-nominated actor Eric Roberts and actress, producer and activist Yolanda King, the first born daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., also attended in support of the campaign. Prior to the event, Autobytel was presented with a certificate of recognition by the city of Los Angeles for their outstanding efforts in promoting safe driving by encouraging drivers to slow down. Click here to view photos of the Los Angeles event. Washington D.C. Tuesday October 8th, 2002 The Pledge continued to rally high-level support in the nation's capital. On October 8th, Autobytel and Pledge Founder Sherry Williams joined forces with "Put the Brakes on Fatalities" (), during their annual event surrounding national "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day" (Oct. 10th). Williams spoke about Autobytel's national Pledge campaign, sharing the podium with representatives from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association and the Department of Transportation. Click here to view photos of the Washington D.C. event. Charlotte, North Carolina April 30th Autobytel Inc. hosted the ceremonial kick off event for its national Take The Pledge campaign at Alexander Graham Middle School, just a couple of blocks away from Pledge Founder Sherry Williams' home. The event was attended by national and local media and a host of prominent public officials, including Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory, District Attorney Peter Gilcrest and Police Chief Darrell Stephens. Click here to view photos of the Charlotte event. New Hampshire New Hampshire resident Marita Mathie was so inspired by the Pledge that she set up a Pledge booth at Exeter's annual Revolutionary War Festival, where she distributed hundreds of Take the Pledge to Slow Down decals and official Pledge contracts (both of which were provided). Marita's activism exemplifies the 'grass roots' nature of the Pledge campaign. To learn more about what you can do to introduce the Pledge to your organization, community group or club, click here and e-mail a request for more information.
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