While most billboard campaigns aim to increase business, a recent one in Texas is trying for just the opposite.  Lucas Funeral Home in Fort Worth is trying to keep people alive by trying to discourage drivers from texting.  Although fatalities from drunk driving are higher, deaths from distracted drivers in Texas is on the rise and quickly closing in.  Nearly 29 percent of traffic fatalities in Texas can be attributed to drunk driving, while distracted drivers are faulted in 14% of fatal accidents.  That statistic is even higher in the Fort Worth area, at 16.9%.

A spokesman for Lucas Funeral Homes, Mark Lucas-Kelly, says that the message is dark humor, but not intended to be disrespectful.  Lucas-Kelly says, “We see families when they are going through the toughest times of their lives.  You could call us ‘the last responders’ in a way.  But even though it’s somewhat humorous and catchy, we are 100% sincere about the message.  Please don’t do it.”

Other safety advocates are taking a much darker and shocking approach to convincing people to stop texting while driving.  A video production company in Arlington created a 4 minute public service announcement based on a real distracted driving accident that claimed the life of a child.  In the video, a man and his infant daughter are hit while walking on a sidewalk after a distracted driver hits a van, causing it to veer off the road.  The dad is injured, but upon seeing his deceased child, grabs the baby’s body and takes it to the driver, telling her to “Look at what you’ve done!” The family on which it is based was consulting in the making of the video, although some details were changed in the making of it.

Texas is one of four states that does not have a blanket ban on texting and driving.  Georgia has had one in place since 2010.