AT&T “Txting While Driving … It Can Wait”
While distracted driving is an issue for all motorists, teenagers are particularly at risk. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and the proliferation of distracted driving among teens is a huge challenge.
That’s why AT&T”s “Txtng & Drivng … It Can Wait” public awareness campaign is especially focused on educating teens about the risks of texting while driving and spreading the message that text messages can wait. Not even red lights, professionals say, signal a “safe” time to text.
As part of its campaign, AT&T has developed a powerful documentary called “The Last Text” that examines the real world consequences of texting and driving. Each of the eight individuals in the video volunteered their stories to help educate Americans – particularly youth – on the risks of texting behind the wheel. The documentary can be viewed online on the AT&T “It Can Wait” website and on the AT&T YouTube page.
Texting is so dangerous because it takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of a football field completely blind. Studies show a driver’s reaction time is doubled when reading or sending a text, and that motorists sending a text while driving are 23 more times likely to be in a crash.
AT&T has taken the next step in their campaign against texting and driving. Last weekend at a teen safety fair AT&T shot the following video of a simulator designed to showcase the dangers of texting and driving. In a city like Los Angeles where traffic is routine, teens and adult drivers need to be reminded of what can happen when attention is taken away from the road to send a text.
The thing that sets this video apart is that it focuses on an AT&T Texting While Driving simulator. The simulator features an actual car where the teen gets in, put on virtual reality goggles and starts driving on a streetscape where pedestrians are walking and other cars are close-by. While taking their eyes off the road to send a text message the inevitable result is that the teen driver crashes into a car or a pedestrian. Here is the video:
