Being a Safe Driver Pays Off

If you are text messaging while reading this article, then it is divine intervention that brought you to this moment now.

On Friday, the largest auto law firm in Michigan kicked off a three-week campaign aimed at informing the public about the dangers of text messaging and driving.

According to a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, people who text and drive are 23 times more likely to be in a car accident.

Enter the Michigan Auto Law sweepstakes on Facebook by “liking” the firm’s page and watching a short video for a chance to win $1,032, which happens to average auto insurance premium in Michigan, according to the Insurance Institute of Michigan.

Steven Gursten, head of the Farmington Hills-based auto firm, said the winner can use the money however he or she wishes, but he hopes the winner will use it to buy the right kind of auto insurance.

"Part of this campaign also centers on our hope to inform drivers about just how many people are uninsured on our roads today. About 50 percent of Detroit drivers, for example, are driving without any auto insurance. And about 19 percent of all Michigan drivers have no auto insurance," Gursten said.

The distracted driving campaign will run three weeks and the winner will be announced on Sept. 12. Official rules and details can be found on Michigan Auto Law's Facebook page.