Nearly Half Of Commuters Admit To Texting While Driving

DALLAS, March 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly half of commuters self-reported texting while driving in a recent poll¹, and 43% of those who did called it a "habit."

Commuters are texting and driving even more than teens – 49%¹, compared to 43%².  And the problem has gotten worse. Six in 10 commuters say they never texted while driving three years ago. 

So while efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of texting while driving are working – 98% of commuters surveyed said they know sending a text or email while driving isn't safe – there's clearly more work to be done to change behaviors.

Survey sponsor AT&T* is calling on employers to help end texting while driving by taking action during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, and beyond. It's asking businesses to join the more than 165 organizations already engaged in the Texting & Driving-It Can Wait movement, and to use the policies, technologies and communications materials available free at att.com/itcanwait to help move their employees beyond being aware of the danger to making a personal commitment not to text and drive.

"Businesses can help keep their employees and others on the road safe by encouraging responsible behavior behind the wheel, including obeying all laws related to the use of electronic devices," said U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue. "We also encourage all businesses to consider joining the 'It Can Wait' movement to end texting while driving.  Together we can help turn the tide on this serious issue."

Through It Can Wait, AT&T has reached millions with the insight that most text messages are trivial, and no text is worth dying for.  It has made the dangers of texting and driving real and personal by giving thousands of people hands-on experience with driving simulators and sharing the heart-wrenching stories of people – like Jamie Nash in this video – whose lives have been forever changed by texting-while-driving accidents. More than 1.3 million personal commitments never to text and drive have been made at ItCanWait.com, through Facebook, text-to-pledge, tweet-to-pledge or at events.

"Through the It Can Wait movement, AT&T is collaborating with employers, nonprofits, law enforcement, educators, legislators, professional associations and government agencies nationwide," said AT&T Senior Executive Vice President and Global Marketing Officer Cathy Coughlin. "I'm confident, together we can save lives by encouraging millions more to make the personal commitment never to text and drive."

For more information, please visit www.ItCanWait.com.  

¹ Commuter survey conducted by ResearchNow on behalf of AT&T
http://www.att.com/Common/about_us/pdf/twd_commutor_survey.pdf

² Teen survey conducted by Beck Research on behalf of AT&T http://www.att.com/Common/about_us/txting_driving/att_teen_survey_executive.pdf

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.