The dangers of texting and driving – as highlighted in the Daniel Squire court case – have prompted the Mercury to launch our own car sticker safety campaign.

From Thursday, May 7, we and Daniel’s family will be giving away free stickers with the slogan: ‘Why risk it?’

It will serve as a clear reminder that writing just one text message when driving could have disastrous consequences. We are asking readers to support our campaign by displaying your stickers in your vehicles and even in your windows at home or at work.

Mercury editor Graham Smith said: "We want to remind all motorists to wait or pull over instead of texting when they are behind the wheel.”

Our campaign follows the high profile court case where van driver Philip Sinden, was acquitted in March of causing the death of teen cyclist Daniel Squire in September 2013. He was found not guilty of dangerous driving and the lesser offence of causing death by careless driving.

The crux of the trial at Canterbury Crown Court looked into whether Mr Sinden was texting in the minutes before the collision on the A258 at Ringwould. He had admitted texting during the journey.

The case, and subsequent questions that surround it, has highlighted the dangers of using our phones while driving.

It has been backed by the parents of Daniel Squire.

His father Symon Squire is an avid cyclist and triathlete. He said: “We fully support the Mercury’s Why Risk It? campaign and we hope it reminds drivers who see the stickers in car windows that sending just one message isn’t worth it.”