The country’s most favorable wireless carrier and Seattle’s most popular athlete — at least right now — are teaming up to put an end to texting while driving.

Seahawks star rookie quarterback Russell Wilson is joining Verizon to help put on a campaign called “Save It Seattle.” It’s intended to encourage students at four Seattle high schools to sign a pledge to stop sending messages on the road.

The school with the most student pledges will earn a visit from Wilson after the contest ends Dec. 19.

Verizon notes that 40 percent of American teens have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger, according to Pew Research.

The campaign is a good idea, but I think there should be more effort to stop cell phone use past just texting while driving. This is especially pertinent with increasing social media use on mobile devices. I’ll admit that I find myself scrolling through my feeds or reading emails when sitting at a stoplight or even while moving.

This also reminds me of Text No More, Rodney Stearns’ startup that won the elevator pitch grand prize at GeekWire’s Fall Meetup in October.

Both students and friends and families in the community who would like to pledge on behalf of the four high schools can take the pledge here — just don’t fill the form out while driving.

Previously on GeekWire: Redbox video streaming: Beta this month, launch 2013

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