Have you ever sent a quick text while you were driving? What about checked your Facebook notifications? Maybe you even took a photo of a beautiful sky while you were driving down the highway. I think most of us are guilty of these seemingly harmless occurrences.
I was invited a few months ago to a Brunch sponsored by AT&T where we learned exactly how dangerous cell phones are becoming in our vehicles. I am an official blogger for the AT&T “It Can Wait” Blogger Experience Tour and I need to share some scary statistics with you today.
- 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%)
How many of these have you done while driving? Well I hope after reading this post today you will not be doing anymore of these activities while you are behind the wheel. I wrote a few months ago about the app that AT&T developed to help you stay off your phone while driving. This app really works. If you try to access your phone while going more than 15 mph you cannot do it. It will also send a message back to someone who texts or messages you, saying, this person is driving right now and will get back to you as soon as possible. Brilliant, right? If you do not have the Drivemode It Can Wait app, I highly suggest that you download it now.
- 62% keep their smartphones within easy reach while driving.
- 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.
My tech expert Jake quickly put together our Virtual Reality Google Cardboard AT&T It Can Wait “glasses”. He downloaded a few apps and we were on our way. All I can say is Wow. You really need to try one of these out to see how easy it is to get in a terrible accident after just grabbing for your phone. You don’t even need to be using your phone, just holding it, or even entering your password can get you into trouble. So what is the solution? The solution is easy. Put your phone in your purse, in your glove compartment, under the passenger seat, anywhere you will not touch it while you are driving. Any message, notification or phone call can wait. Your life is too precious.
Why did AT&T start this campaign? I am sure something similar to this has happened to you. You are rushing to get the kids to school and yourself to work. Your colleague texts you as you are driving- could they be letting you know something important about your 9AM meeting? You take your eyes off the road for just a second. What happens next…could be life-changing. It’s hard to envision a moment like that until you experience it. AT&T doesn’t want that moment to happen so they are bringing it to life—virtually. AT&T recently launched a new virtual reality experience that simulates, in an immersive but safe 3-D setting, the potentially deadly consequences of glancing at your phone while driving. You can experience the simulation in your own home by downloading a free Virtual Reality app onto your smartphone and pairing it with the Google Cardboard. I have one At&T Virtual Reality Google Cardboard for you to win today! Must live in the US.
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Remember no text, email or selfie is worth a life – It Can Wait.
This post is not sponsored. I did receive a VR AT&T It Can Wait Google Cardboard for my family to try and I also received one to giveaway to a lucky reader. All ideas are my own and I only share my honest opinions with you on this blog.
I keep my cell phone in my pocket. I do not text while I am driving.
That’s awesome. Thanks for keeping safe while driving.
I fully support this campaign. The myth is this is a practice only done by teens and young adults. I have seen every age looking at their phones while driving or sitting at a light. All scary. Even those paid to be behind the wheel, like truckers, school bus drivers, delivery drivers, bus drivers – it is an epidemic.
I totally agree with you! It is an epidemic. When I am driving, it feels like everyone around me is on their phones and it scares me so much! I want my family to be safe, but we are at the mercy of other drivers. Thanks for visiting and for driving safely.
I don’t have AT&T but love the Drivemode it Can Wait app. I’m familiar with it because one of my friends uses it and I had gotten that text message when I texted her. I wish Verizon had something similar. I’m not sure if the app works outside of AT&T’s network.
I’m not surprised by the stats of how many people use their phones while driving. I see it all the time in California.
I don’t use my phone when driving, except for Google maps. But I don’t hold it, it just talks to me. 🙂
However, I am guilty of using my phone when I’m stopped at red lights. And technically that’s still driving and using your cell phone.
I am constantly amazed at how many people I see on their phones especially on the highway! It is really scary.
i leave it in my purse unless i am using the GPS!
That is great. I wish more people would start to leave their phone in their purse.
Wow!! I love that this is something that you’re passionate about!!
We all need to put our phones away and keep the roads safer! Thanks for visiting.
Wow, I had no idea of a lot of this! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for visiting Maria, this is such an important topic. It could literally save your life!
The truth is, it really can wait. That text can wait until you’re at a red light or a stop sign. Whatever you were going to send isn’t worth your life.
It really is true. We all need to work together to drive safer and keep our phones out of reach!
What a well-written + thought out post! Thank you!
Thanks so much for reading and visiting. This is a very important topic!
Wait people do video while driving!? Ugh 🙁
Yes! I just saw on the news that someone was facetiming while driving and was upset she got a ticket!! So scary!
I’m a reformed texter-while-driving, and haven’t done it in 4-5 years (wahoo!) but I still have to remind my parents not to do it! I’m going to show them these statistics. Wow, scary!
I am so happy to hear that you have changed your ways. Please share these scary stats with your friends and parents. We all want our roads to be safer and this is a great way to spread the word.
I have a little device, or gismo if you want to call it that, which secures my phone in a safe place where I can reach it and see directions at all times.
-Glenn
I leave my Phone inside my purse. I wish we can call on other drivers when they drive distracted. Ive seen it so many times, they think they can take “manage”. They don’t realize that accidents can happen..the lives that can change in an instant. I always remind my husband that it is better to loose a minute in your life than your life or other people lives in a minute.
This is so true and so important! We each need to care about each other and drive safely all the time.