The Mercury has now formally launched its anti text/driving car sticker campaign.

Free stickers are now available to pick up at the East Kent Mercury office and in outlets around Deal and Dover.

Mercury editor Graham Smith said: “We’re delighted to be launching our campaign which we have called ‘Why Risk It?’

“We want to remind all drivers who see the stickers that sending just one text when you’re behind the wheel could have disastrous consequences.

“We now have stickers available in two sizes. The bigger ones are available now and the smaller ones are due to be available from Wednesday.

“We suggest that the bigger stickers are put in shop windows, homes, industrial vehicles and coaches and the smaller ones in cars.”

It was the high profile trial of Philip Sinden in March that made us decide to do something pro-active.

Mr Sinden was charged with causing the death of teen cyclist Daniel Squire by dangerous driving.

He was acquitted of the charge and found not guilty of the lesser offence of causing death by careless driving.

Mr Sinden had admitted texting during the journey in September 2013 when 18-year-old Daniel was struck from his bike at Ringwould.

The former St Edmund’s pupil and London Fancy Box worker was cycling from his home in St Margaret’s at Cliffe to his father’s at Ringwould. He was just minutes away when the incident happened.

A jury decided Mr Sinden was not texting at the time of impact, but the case prompted the debate around town.

The campaign has won the support of Daniel’s family - mum Tracy, dad Symon and sister Hayley. They will be handing out stickers.

It would not have been made possible without the sponsorship of Ovenden’s and Adamson’s Suzuki. Juicy media printed them at a reduced cost to meet our budget.

Stickers will be handed out by Tracy Squire at Sainsbury’s on Saturday, May 23.

The free stickers are currently available at:

• East Kent Mercury office in Queen Street, Deal
• Deal Town Council offices in the High Street, Deal
• Sainsburys (on Saturday, May 23)