According to the National
Safety Council, texting and driving causes more than 100,000 car crashes on
roadways across America each year. These
numbers add up to one simple solution: never text and drive…It can wait.
To put an end to
texting and driving, AT&T launched the It
Can Wait campaign, which
Girl Scouts of the USA is proud to be a part of. When it comes to texting and
driving, the attitude of “do as I say, not as I do” widely persists. Today,
more drivers than ever recognize the dangers of texting while driving, but
continue to engage in this risky behavior. Originally introduced in 2009, the
program aims to educate millions of wireless users, employees and the general
public — particularly teens —about the dangers of texting while driving. In
2012, “No Text on Board” pledge day on September 19th brought consumers,
policymakers and companies together to help end this dangerous behavior.
This year, we’re
excited to help take the It Can Wait movement one step further with “Drive 4
Pledges Day” on September 19, 2013. On this
day, It Can Wait advocates will be asking every driver to join us in making a
personal commitment not to text and drive – and recruiting others to do the
same. To succeed in making texting and driving a thing of the past, we’re going
to need everybody’s help.
Why should
you participate? The influence of just one person can have a tremendous impact.
If you’re not convinced, consider the results of a recent survey of teen
drivers ConnectSafely.org and
AT&T conducted. The survey found 78% said they’re likely not to text and
drive if friends tell them it's wrong or stupid. Furthermore, 90% say they
would stop texting while driving if a friend in the car asked them to and 93%
said they would stop if a parent in the car asked.
Visit www.att.com/itcanwaitadvocate for free resources about
It Can Wait to educate your colleagues, friends and family and convince them to
make a personal commitment not to text and drive. Once you take the pledge online, ask others to vow never to
text and drive, or simply share your pledge and what it means to you through
your social media channels.