Distracted Driving Awareness Month: Paying It Forward

by | Mar 29, 2017 | Distracted driving

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. A time when we should all take a moment to remind each other that it’s never okay to double task while driving.

It’s as simple as a glance.

Distracted driving is NEVER OK. You’re never alone on the road, even when you’re alone in your car. That’s the simple message behind AT&T’s IT CAN WAIT campaign against distracted driving. Research by AT&T shows smartphone distractions behind the wheel have grown beyond texting to social media, web surfing, selfies, and video chatting. With Distracted Driving Awareness Month beginning April 1, AT&T is urging you to take the IT CAN WAIT pledge.

Here is what AT&T has learned through its research:

ItCanWait2017Power of a Pledge:

  • More than 14.2 million people have taken the IT CAN WAIT pledge, and 2016 research shows pledging matters and makes a difference.
  • According to the findings, almost half of people who pledged said they now don’t use their smartphones while driving.
  • Those who share their promise or pledge with others are even more likely to stop, and more likely to speak up to others.

o   4-in-10 asked a friend or family member to not use their smartphone while driving.

o   One-third asked a driver to not use their smartphone while driving when riding as a passenger.

o   4-in-10 asked a passenger to operate their smartphone while they are driving.

You’re Never Alone on the Road:

  • 2016 research shows that only 36% of drivers look at their smartphone with passengers in the car, compared to more than 6-in-10 (64%) without a passenger.
  • People look at their phone even less when the passenger is a child.
  • AT&T created a powerful PSA in 2016 to drive home the “You’re never alone on the road” message. You can view it at https://www.itcanwait.com/videos .

Habit Stats:

  • For 1-in-3 drivers distracted driving is a habit.
  • Habitual distracted drivers have a false sense of security in their actions. Only 58% feel that using their smartphone behind the wheel is “very dangerous,” compared to 78% of non-habitual distracted drivers. Ironically, they’re also twice as likely to have been involved in a near crash or a collision.

Smartphone Distracted Driving Stats:

  • 7-in-10 people engage in smartphone activities while driving.
  • 62% keep their smartphones within easy reach while driving.
  • Nearly 4-in-10 smartphone users tap into social media while driving. Almost 3-in-10 surf the net. And 1-in-10 video chat!
  • Facebook tops the social platform list — more than a quarter of those polled use the app while driving. About 1-in-7 said they’re on Twitter behind the wheel. 30% of those 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.
  • Smartphone activities people do while driving:

–       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 DriveMode:

  • AT&T DriveMode is free to customers of all wireless carriers for iPhone and Android users.
  • It is now available in Spanish.
  • It helps curb the urge to text and drive by silencing incoming text messages.
  • Its auto mode feature automatically turns on the app when you reach 15 MPH and turns it off after you stop.
  • AT&T DriveMode can help keep young drivers safe by sending a message to a parent if the app is turned off.
  • The campaign has resulted in more than 5 million downloads of the app.

AT&T launched IT CAN WAIT in 2010. Since then, many celebrities have joined the cause to deliver the message via TV ads, concerts, public appearances, Twitter and Facebook.

AT&T’s aggressive social media campaign encourages people to share the #ItCanWait message with friends and follow the @ItCanWait Twitter handle.

The company has also added a virtual reality experience component to the campaign to show the potentially deadly consequences of glancing at your smartphone while driving. You can download the free AT&T VR app and buy Google Cardboard at www.ItCanWait.com/VR to use with your smartphone to experience the IT CAN WAIT driving simulation.