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AT&T simulator steers teens away from texting and driving
When it comes to texting and driving, it can wait. That is the simple, yet vital message AT&T drove home to Garfield High School teens last month.
To emphasize their message, AT&T brought a driving simulator to Garfield High May 19 to let students experience first-hand the dangers of texting behind the wheel. AT&T produced a video of the Garfield visit.
Washington state has a “hands-free” law that prohibits the use of handheld cellphones and texting while driving.
According to statistics from Virginia Tech Transportation Research, texting is the number one mode of communication for teens – who text on average 60 times a day. One text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s driving the length of a football field completely blind.
The timing of AT&T’s message couldn’t be more critical because according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the 100 deadliest days for teens to be on the road runs from about Memorial Day to Labor Day. Teens do the most driving during this period because of proms, graduations and summer activities.
The simulator was part of AT&T’s Txtng & Driving ... It Can Wait program to educate drivers about the dangers of texting while driving. Since the campaign was announced in 2009, AT&T has created a resource center offering downloadable educational resources for parents and educators.
The company has also integrated anti-texting-while-driving messaging in its more than 2,200 company-owned stores, including device clings for new smartphones.
Watch “The Last Text” a powerful 10-minute documentary featuring real stories of individual lives that have been drastically altered – or even ended – because of texting while driving.
Photo courtesy of AT&T
A Garfield High student tries to text and drive inside an AT&T driving simulator.