Discovery Insure, in partnership with bp Southern Africa (bpSA), has launched a bold new nationwide campaign: #DriveNowTextLater. This high-impact initiative tackles one of South Africa’s deadliest driving behaviours – texting while driving – by calling on all motorists to make a visible and public pledge to put their phones away and keep their eyes on the road.
In addition to helping make roads safer for everyone, you and your clients stand to win a share of R1 million when you make your pledge and share it to social media, turning positive behaviour into tangible rewards.
“At bp, safety is at the heart of everything we do – for our teams, our customers and the communities we serve. The #DriveNowTextLater campaign aligns with our safety leadership culture and allows us to extend that commitment to every person who drives into our forecourts. It’s about creating safer journeys and supporting a culture where people can get to their loved ones safely every time,” says bpSA’s GM for Mobility & Convenience, Nokwanda Khumalo.
“The dangers of texting while driving can’t be overstated. It’s time to make texting while driving socially unacceptable – just like drinking and driving has become,” says Discovery Insure CEO, Robert Attwell. “Discovery Insure’s telematics data shows clearly that distracted driving – especially using a cellphone behind the wheel – is putting South African drivers at serious risk.”
Discovery Insure’s unique insights
“In May last year, we shared the results of research into factors that influence vehicle accident risk. The data showed that while environmental factors like road conditions and vehicle factors contribute to road fatalities, human factors like driver behaviour play the biggest role. For Discovery Insure clients, over 60% of motor vehicle fatalities were influenced by five behaviours – drinking and driving, cellphone usage while driving, excessive speeding, aggressive driving, and lack of vehicle care. Notably, the data revealed that cellphone distractions were the biggest contributor to road accidents for our clients,” says Attwell.
“We found a concerning rise in accidents due to distracted driving, overshadowing previous risk areas like night-time driving, reflecting a shift in risk patterns on the road. The research underscored the urgent need for behaviour change and for supporting interventions like telematics-based rewards, educational campaigns, and policy advocacy to address cellphone distractions while driving – which brings us to the launch of this exciting new campaign.”
“With all of this in mind, our new campaign is about sharing information and helping people to develop healthier driving habits,” says Attwell.
A nationwide movement for safer roads
“We’re proud to partner with Discovery Insure on a campaign that is more than just awareness – it’s a movement that empowers everyday drivers to make safer choices,” adds Khumalo. “If one small pledge can prevent one accident, then this campaign will have made a meaningful difference.”
“Through this partnership with bp, and with the voices of trusted public figures and real South Africans, we’re aiming to drive a real culture shift,” adds Attwell. “Together, we can turn one small pledge into one big movement.”
How you and your clients can take part
- From 9 April to 13 July 2025, fill up at any participating bp service station for R600 or more to qualify.
- Get your sticker, apply it to your thumb and snap and share a picture of it to social media to make your pledge. While thumbs are most often used to send texts, you can also put your sticker on any finger you use to text, or in another visible spot in your vehicle.
- Don’t forget to include #DriveNowTextLater in your comment section to enter into the draw.
- Complete the above and you will stand to win your share of R1 million in cash prizes.
Discovery Insure’s ongoing commitment to building a nation of great drivers
#DriveNowTextLater is the latest in a series of initiatives from Discovery Insure that aim to reduce road accidents through innovation and behavioural change. From Vitality Drive and Impact Alert to the Discovery Safe Journeys to School programme and the Discovery Pothole Patrol, the business continues to invest in data-backed solutions that deliver real-world results.
“This campaign signals a bold evolution in our journey to building a nation of great drivers,” adds Attwell, “one where a small gesture, like placing a symbolic sticker on a thumb and pledging to change texting and driving behaviour one trip at a time, can spark a big movement towards safer roads for all.”
