AT&T is stepping up its efforts to stop the dangerous behavior of texting while driving.
An intense 30-day push to get drivers nationwide to take the no texting-while-driving pledge began on Aug. 15. The push is an extension of the AT&T “It Can Wait” campaign launched in 2009 and will culminate on Sept. 19 when AT&T asks all drivers to make a lifelong commitment to never text and drive again.
“More than 100,000 times each year, an automobile crashes and people are injured or die while a driver was texting and driving,” said AT&T Florida president Marshall Criser lll, citing a statistic from the National Safety Council.
“Our goal is to save lives,” Criser said. “I hear from far too many people whose lives have been forever changed by a textingwhile- driving accident, and together, we want to spread the word about how deadly a single text can be. Texting and driving should be as unacceptable as drinking and driving.
“We’re challenging everyone to take the pledge to never text and drive and to make it a lifelong commitment,” he said. “And we’re challenging all device makers and app developers to offer devices that come pre-loaded with a no-text-and-drive technology solution.”
AT&T is encouraging those who take the pledge to share their promise with others via Twitter (#itcanwait) and Facebook.
AT&T customers also are urged to use the free AT&T DriveMode app to curb the temptation to text while driving. When enabled, the app automatically sends a customized message to those texting you letting them know you’re driving and will get back with them when you’re at your destination.
More details concerning the “It Can Wait” campaign can be found at www.itcanwait.com
