Verizon Wireless Offers Holiday Travelers Tips For Responsible Driving This Season

BEDMINSTER, NJ — This holiday season more than 83 percent of Christmas travelers and 78.9 percent of New Year's travelers will go "over-the-river-and-through-the-woods to grandmother's house" by automobile, according to the American Travel Survey. Before loading the family, gifts and holiday cookies into the car and hitting the roads, many travelers will be reaching for their wireless phone to accompany them on their journeys throughout the country's winter roads.

Verizon Wireless wants to ensure that travelers heading to the in-law's house to feast on the Christmas goose arrive safely by driving responsibly. Hands-free devices such as headsets, earpieces, and voice-activated dialing services from Verizon Wireless help drivers keep their eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel. Wireless phones equipped with headsets can be used to check in with Mom to report delays if traffic is heavy or to check on road conditions.

Wireless headsets make great stocking stuffers or gifts for house guests who will be heading back onto the wintry roads after all the presents are exchanged. A range of headsets are available on the Safety Wall at the more than 1,300 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores throughout the country, or online at www.verizonwireless.com, where you'll receive free shipping. Starting at less than $15, headsets are priced affordably so they make great last minute gifts for loved ones.

Verizon Wireless offers some additional tips for responsible wireless calling this season.

• In the spirit of the holidays, keep a watch out for other travelers that may be involved in an accident or in need of roadside assistance. Use your wireless phone to dial 9-1-1 SEND in case of fire, traffic accidents and other emergencies or road hazards. This is a free call from your wireless phone.

• If possible, pull off the road to a safe location before dialing. If your phone rings, pull over to a safe area on the side of the road, let a passenger take the call, or let the call go to voicemail.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S.with 26.3 million wireless voice and data customers and 3.5 million paging customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp -- now Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) -- and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The company has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Verizon Wireless, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 32,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.

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