So you are driving down the road – you have an impulse to take a selfie? Seriously?
Yes, I have seen teens and young adults that insist on telling us their mood while driving down a highway with a selfie – exactly what are they thinking?
Oh – seriously – they aren’t thinking!
I see these images on Facebook threads or Instagram and it simply infuriates me. I sometimes wonder why don’t any of their friends mention in the comments that snapping that selfie is not only putting them at risk – but putting the others around them in danger.
Instead – I see comments like – oh, you look great — love your smile — great hair day — etc…. with youth, it is usually all about them.
Okay – so I am being a bit harsh here – but when it comes to behavior that can potentially put others at risk, this is serious stuff and we should reach out and say something.
I haven’t even mentioned taking photo’s, sending an email (which I am sure now we are getting into some adults that send that last minute work email from a red light or stop sign) or people that want to snap that video that think it might be the next YouTube sensation without thinking the safety of cars around them…..
So I have set up the preface for AT&T’s latest survey.
AT&T today announced the findings of a survey which have prompted the company to expand the It Can Wait® campaign from a focus on texting while driving to include other smartphone driving distractions.
New research from AT&T shows 7-in-10 people engage in smartphone activities while driving. Texting and emailing are still the most prevalent. But other smartphone activity use behind the wheel is now common. Nearly 4-in-10 smartphone users tap into social media while driving. Almost 3-in-10 surf the net. And surprisingly, 1-in-10 video chat.
Smartphone activities people say they do while driving include:
- Text (61%)
- Email (33%)
- Surf the net (28%)
- Facebook (27%)
- Snap a selfie/photo (17%)
- Twitter (14%)
- Instagram (14%)
- Shoot a video (12%)
- Snapchat (11%)
- Video chat (10%)
AT&T will use the survey findings to help drive awareness of the dangers of smartphone use behind the wheel, and to encourage life-saving behavior change. The company will launch a nationwide virtual reality tour this summer to help people understand that it’s not possible to drive safely while using a smartphone.
Other unsettling findings include:
· 62% keep their smartphones within easy reach while driving.4
· 30% of people who post to Twitter while driving do it “all the time.”
· 22% who access social networks while driving cite addiction as a reason.
· Of those who shoot videos behind the wheel, 27% think they can do it safely while driving.
