National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Adult Drivers Texting More Than Teens
 
Ohio’s statewide ban on texting while driving only went into full effect last month, but a new poll from AT&T makes obvious the reason why this pervasive safety issue deserves our attention. While previous studies by the communications company showed that 43% of teen drivers admitted to texting while driving, a new survey just released shows that an even greater number of adult commuters – nearly half! – admit they text behind the wheel.
 
 

Among the 49% of adults who admitted to texting while driving, more than 40% say it’s not only a dangerous practice… it’s actually a habit. And it’s one that seems to be increasing. Six out of ten of those surveyed said they only started texting while driving within the last three years.

 
AT&T has focused on this issue with their no-texting-while-driving campaign, called It Can Wait. The company is now calling on employers to help end texting while driving by taking action during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, and beyond. It’s asking businesses to join the more than 165 organizations already engaged in the It Can Wait movement, and to use the policies, technologies and communications materials available free at att.com/ItCanWait to help move their employees beyond being aware of the danger to making a personal commitment not to text and drive. AT&T reports that more than 1.3 million people have taken the company’s online It Can Wait pledge to never text and drive.
 
Here in Ohio, AT&T’s unique distracted driving simulators have visited high schools in the Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Youngstown and Zanesville areas.  Utilizing either an automobile or video monitors and projecting a virtual roadway, the AT&T simulators allow participants to see first-hand how vulnerable they are to deadly danger when they try to text while driving.
 
“Through the It Can Wait movement, AT&T is collaborating with employers, nonprofits, law enforcement, educators, legislators, professional associations and government agencies nationwide,” said AT&T Senior Executive Vice President and Global Marketing Officer Cathy Coughlin. “I’m confident, together we can save lives by encouraging millions more to make the personal commitment never to text and drive.”
 
For more information, visit www.ItCanWait.com.