A campaign aimed at curbing distracted driving is once again rolling out at university campuses.
The Leave the Phone Alone Campaign has been running for quite some time and sees participants pledge not to use their phone while behind the wheel.
Matthew Anderton, a bike patroller with the University of Ottawa's protection services is helping promote the campaign.
"This is a school, people are here to learn, so if you take the time and talk to them and explain to them the dangers of texting and driving, usually they're pretty receptive," he said.
"Last year was the first year we partnered with the Ottawa Police for this and we had a couple hundred people actually take the pledge," added Anderton. "There's a pledge that can be taken online. What you do is you give your name, your address and stuff like that and you put your little thumb print on the board that we have there and you're just taking kind of like a Scout's honoured pledge that you won't text and drive."
He said they were speaking to a number of students heading to classes.
Drivers aged 16 to 29 are most at risk of being involved in distracted driving related collisions, and Sgt. Denis Hull with the Ottawa Police East District Traffic said that's why it was so important to speak with students.
"Education, education, education," said Hull on how they can get the message through to students. "You've all seen this commercial that's been airing by the Ministry (of Transportation) where it shows a person texting and collides with another vehicle and ends up in a hospital in a wheel chair. It is dangerous. Students need to know that. No text is worth your life."
The campaign also underway at Carleton University. A Leave the Phone Alone booth will also be set up at the upcoming Panda Game between Carleton and uOttawa at TD Place.