The Riyadh Marriott Hotel launched on Monday a week-long campaign among its 500 staff and guests to encourage them to avoid sending text messages while driving.

“This campaign is part of the hotel's corporate social responsibility (CSR) and a way of giving back what it gets from public patronage,” the hotel GM Muir Serhan said.

The Marriott GM added that sending text messages while driving could have dangerous consequences as it could lead to fatal accidents. Serhan said he himself had stopped sending text messages while driving.

The campaign involves asking hotel guests whether they send text messages while driving and if they answer yes, then they are asked whether they were aware of the dangers posed by texting while driving. Unfortunately, some answered yes to the first question.

“We give them a USB with videos showing what happens to the driver when sending a text message while driving,” Serhan said.

Earlier, Riyadh Marriott also held a blood donation campaign in coordination with the King Fahd Medical City as part of its CSR activities.