AT&T ramps up anti-texting-and-driving campaign
A sign that states “No Texting While Driving” in West University Place, Texas seeks to steer drivers away from distracting themselves with their wireless devices while on the road. (Credit: Wikipedia)
With the busiest travel days of the year ahead, millions of people will be hitting Puerto Rico roads to visit their families for Thanksgiving. However, combining road trips and connecting with loved ones by texting while driving is a recipe for disaster, the message behind wireless carrier AT&T’s anti-texting-and-driving campaign.
A May 2012 AT&T-conducted study found that texting drivers are 23 times more likely to be in an accident, while 97 percent of teens said they know that texting is dangerous. However, 75 percent of them said texting while driving is “common” among their friends.
“This holiday season is all about speaking up and saving lives and these eye-opening statistics show just that,” the carrier said in a statement issued Tuesday.
AT&T recently partnered with ConnectSafely.org as part of its national initiative to educate teens on the dangers of texting while driving and found that:
- 78 percent of teen drivers said they’re likely not to text and drive if friends tell them it’s wrong or stupid.
- 90 percent said they’d stop if a friend in the car asked them to.
- 93 percent would stop if a parent in the car asked them to.
- 44 percent said they would be thankful if a passenger complained about their texting while driving.
“This is proof that speaking up can really make a difference. So while you are driving home for the holidays, remember to put that phone down because no text is worth your life,” the carrier said as part of its campaign.
