It Can Wait: Take the Pledge to Avoid Distracted Driving

Pledge to avoid distracted driving by joining the It Can Wait campaign.

Did you know 95% of drivers admit to being against distracted driving yet 71% still engage in activities on their smartphone while driving? Raising awareness of this very real epidemic is the continued goal of the It Can Wait Drive campaign. The purpose of It Can Wait is to encourage drivers all over the country to keep their eyes on the road, and not on their cell phones.

AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon will be teaming up once again to spread awareness on the road. Through the use of social medial sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube in addition to the help of schools, businesses, and people around the United States, the message will be heard loud and clear.

Organizations Participating in It Can Wait

Communities Nationwide

• Almost 2,000 Drive 4 Pledges activities.
• 200 or more announcements will be issued on the television, radio, and social media sites.
• Youth Safety Teen Distracted Driving Prevention Summit

GE Healthcare

• Every US Service vehicle will have an It Can Wait window cling to remind their employees to stay off their phones while they’re behind the wheel.

Goodyear

• Goodyear blimps will be broadcasting the message in Miami, Florida and Los Angles, California.

Sporting Events

• The It Can Wait message will be broadcasted any sporting events and games all over the country.

The Consumer Electronics Association

• Will host an employee and membership pledge drive
• Will be spreading the message across their social medial sites

The National Auto Body Council

• Will be spreading the message through newsletters, press releases, and their social medial sites.

Member Collision Shops

• Will be hosting mini pledge drives in local communities

Net Impact

• Throughout colleges around the globe, Net Impact will be promoting the pledge as a “small step” in their Small Steps, Big Wins Campus Challenge program.

Girl Scouts

• All 112 councils throughout the country will work together through their social medial sites to spread the word.

Get Involved: Take the It Can Wait Pledge

There are many ways in which people all over the country can get involved. First, start by visiting the website for the It Can Wait campaign and take The Pledge. When you take The Pledge, you’re committing to staying off your phone when you drive, and you’ll be sharing The Pledge with your social medial friends on both Facebook and Twitter. All it takes in 2 minutes and one click of your mouse. Second, download the It Can Wait campaign kit on the It Can Wait website. In this kit, you’ll receive:

• Documents fronts
• A wide selection of wallpapers for your:
• Desktop
• Tablet
• Mobile phone
• A PDF consisting of several links to It Can Wait videos
• A PDF consisting of an array of statistics
• Several PDF posters, ads, and pictures

All of the statistics, images, and videos that you’ll receive in this kit can be shared on your social medial sites (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). By sharing these items, you’ll be helping save lives and informing others on the dangers of texting and calling while driving.  You can also sign up and become a member. By signing up, you’ll have access to even more helpful resources.

Helpful Mobile Apps

Another way you can get involved and help is by downloading the AT&T mobile app DriveMode. This app is available for both Android and iOS and allows you to perform the following:

• Silent text messages
• Reply to SMS and MMS messages automatically (only for AT&T customers)
• Automatically turns on when moving your vehicle begins traveling at the speed of 15 mph.
• Automatically alerts the driver’s parents if the app has been turned off.
• Gives drivers access music and navigation with one easy touch.
• Home screen can be customized with any picture.

Safety Go is another app that is extremely beneficial. Safety Go is designed to help you stay focused on the road instead of your phone. It does this by:

• Allowing you to choose 3 “VIP Contacts” (like your family or boss) and will only accept only calls and texts only from those contacts. All other calls and text messages are answered with an automated response.
• Only allowing you to have access to 3 apps while you’re driving.

Safely Go is only available for Android. However, it’s compatible with Bluetooth and other hands-free device. A third app that’s been getting a lot of attention lately is the It Can Wait Driving Simulation app. This app gives you a virtual reality experience, and helps you make fast decisions when you’re behind the virtual wheel. This app is available for both Android powered mobile devices as well as iOS.

What’s most distracting on a mobile device?

Some people text, some people check their Facebook, and others use other features on their mobile devices. AT&T surveyed over 2,000 people to see what smartphone activities they participated in while they drove.

It doesn’t matter which activity you use your phone for, if you’re doing it while you’re driving, you’re a danger not only to yourself but everyone else on the road. If you think this isn’t a serious matter, consider the statistics listed below:

• 7 in 10 drivers participate in smartphone activities or apps while operating a motor vehicle.
• Almost 4 out of 10 drivers use social media while operating a motor vehicle.
• Every day, there are more than 9 people killed from distractive drivers here in the Unites States.
• In 2012, distracted driving consumed the lives of 3,328 people.

Take The Pledge and commit to not using your cell phone while you drive. If you’re riding in a vehicle with someone that is messing around on their phone, remind them of the dangers, so you both will arrive safely.