Dangers of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving remains the leading cause of motor-vehicle crashes in the United States.

In today’s age, our cellphones are one of our most valuable assets, but something as simple as sending a text while behind the wheel can come with risks. Studies show that drivers who use cellphones while driving are four times as more likely to get into a car accident, than drivers who pay attention on the road. Even though that text may seem important, AT&T said “It Can Wait,” as no text is worth a life.

“This is a movement called “It Can Wait,” which reminds drivers of the dangers of texting while driving, and these days it’s about more than texting, it’s about posting on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, video messages, and all of these are extremely dangerous activities,” said B.J. Smith, Director of AT&T External Affairs.

On Wednesday, AT&T representatives visited Bryan Place to give a detailed presentation focused on the risks of using your smartphone while behind the wheel. For a more in depth look at the dangers of distracted driving, guests were able to try texting and driving using a virtual reality driving simulator.

“When you’re in the experience, you’re actually getting distracted, you start in a school zone, you’re in neighborhood, then you’re on a freeway, and the whole time you’re getting texts, you keep looking at your phone, and it’s a buildup to the end where there’s a very jarring accident, and for many people it’s the wake up call they need,” said spokesperson, C.J. Johnson.

Through this effort, AT&T hopes people will keep their eyes on the road, and not on their phone.