Why Your Kids Need You to Stop Distracted Driving

Too many accidents happen because of distracted driving. Learn what the AT&T It Can Wait campaign is doing about it and ways you can participate. Disclosure: This is a sponsored blog post and I was compensated by AT&T. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was one of the last hold outs for smart phones. For the longest time, I relied my “old school” flip phone—after all, I only used it to make calls and send a few texts. None of the other fancy stuff.

But when it came time to renew my phone, I bit the bait. I got myself a smart phone and became one of the many people who can now surf the web, check directions and listen to music, among other features.

I loved it. And now there’s no way I’d go back to using a flip phone.

But it has its downsides, too. I’m more distracted, whether at home when I should be playing with the kids, or even, I hate to admit, on the road.

You see, I’m not the “typical” culprit of distracted driving. I don’t talk on my phone or text while driving. But it’s this exact excuse that can often go unnoticed yet continue to be just as dangerous.

For instance, I’ll check my email when I’m at a red light. I’m not actually driving, I justify to myself. So it’s fine to check my phone at a red light.

But there are downsides to this. I’m not focused on the road and am more likely to not notice that the green light turned on or that pedestrians about to cross the street. And once you start checking your phone, it can be pretty difficult to stop once you do start driving.

I find all sorts of excuses to keep the phone nearby while I’m driving. I could be charging the phone, or I need it for directions. Or I feel safer having it within reach should anything happen (of course nothing ever does).

But the last straw was when, at a red light, I sneaked my hand to grab the phone, all while looking in the rear view mirror to see if my kids could see what I was doing. As if them not catching me in the act would make it not so bad.

I knew I wanted to set a good example for my kids, and to follow through with all honesty. So when I heard about the AT&T It Can Wait 21-Day Challenge, I knew I needed to sign up.

The AT&T It Can Wait Campaign

I learned that far too many accidents on the road happen because of smart phone distracted driving. It’s especially disappointing because those accidents are preventable. One text unsent could’ve meant one life saved or one accident avoided.

The AT&T It Can Wait Campaign is committed to bringing awareness and reduce the number of texting and driving accidents. They’re calling all drivers to sign up for a 21-Day pledge that starts today—a pledge to not text and drive. And this year, the campaign wants to reach 16 million pledges by the end of 2016 to grow awareness of the problems of distracted driving.

And the campaign is working. In the six years since AT&T launched It Can Wait, research suggests a correlation between the campaign activities and a reduction in crashes. Almost half of people who pledge say they now don’t use their smart phones while driving, even once the challenge is over.

FREE AT&T DriveMode App

AT&T is making it even easier to take this 21-Day Challenge with an AT&T DriveMode App. This free app on your phone helps prevent distracted driving by silencing incoming alerts.

The app also allows you send auto-responses to text messages saying you’re currently driving and will get back to them once it’s safe to do so. And, with one touch, you can still access music and navigation apps as well as key contacts.

Download the app right here on Google Play.

I’m one of the millions of people who’ve signed up for this pledge. For 21 days, I pledge not to use my phone while driving. To make myself even more accountable, Every week, I’ll be updating my status on social media using the #ItCanWait hashtag. Keep up with how I’m doing with the challenge on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

Even better, I’d love for you to join me! We’re all in this together—we all share the same roads. We are all affected when someone texts and drives. Take the 21-Day Challenge and pledge NOT to use your phone from today until January 4, 2017. Join me and take the pledge right here:

Take the It Can Wait 21-Day Challenge and Pledge

This is a sponsored blog post and I was compensated by AT&T. All thoughts and opinions are my own.