AT&T Consumer Blog -- 1 Million Pledges For It Can Wait

The following blog was posted by AT&T to announce that more than a million pledges have been logged to never text and drive as a result of AT&T's It Can Wait campaign.

By Charlene Lake, AT&T SVP Public Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer

News provided by

AT&T

Sep 28, 2012, 08:00 ET

DALLAS, Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Three simple words -- It Can Wait -- have sparked a movement.

A movement to improve driver safety. A movement to prevent automobile accidents. And, most important, a movement to save lives.

As of today, more than a million pledges have been logged to never text and drive as a result of AT&T's It Can Wait campaign.

Why? Because this movement isn't just about numbers. It's about passion.

And people all across the country -- in addition to pledging -- have taken to the Internet to share their stories of pain, loss and suffering as a result of texting while driving. Here's one story about an AT&T employee's tragic loss (http://blogs.att.net/consumerblog/story/a7784078); after reading his words, I cannot imagine anyone ever texting while driving.

For some, pledging to never text and drive is common sense. One person writes, "There is nothing funny about an LOL that turns lethal." For others, it's about responsibility. And yet another explains, "I don't have the right to take away somebody else's life. No one does. Ever."

And these individuals aren't alone in expressing their passion for this issue. Musician Ryan Beatty, actress Victoria Justice, U.S. Olympic gymnasts Gabrielle Douglas and Jordyn Wieber, American Idol finalists and nearly 80 other celebrities share this conviction and have joined the movement.

It Can Wait is also connecting groups and organizations. More than 140 organizations have joined in the cause, including the American Federation of Teachers, Big Brothers Big Sisters, DECA, the FCC, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, Junior Achievement, NAACP, National Safety Council, NOYS, SADD and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

We still have a lot more to do. I encourage you to be among those who are stepping up to be counted. Go to ItCanWait.com, take the pledge and become part of a movement that's changing behavior and saving lives.

And keep in mind that not everything that counts can be counted. That's certainly the passion behind It Can Wait. It's driven by the love and care of family, friends, colleagues, and yes, even those we never know until we hear about them on the news. And that's why on behalf of AT&T, I want to personally thank the many people and organizations that have helped create a movement that simply could no longer wait.

SOURCE AT&T