You may remember Michael’s post in December on the important topic of texting while driving. AT&T recently launched a campaign on this major issue.
Awareness is key. Whether you’re talking on the phone, sending a text message, or even swapping CD’s, all of these basic tasks could take our focus off of the road while driving, leaving you less aware of your surroundings’ less aware of the road in front of you and the other drivers around you.
A July 2009 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded that texting while driving increases your risk of being in an accident by a factor of 23.
I know the temptation to respond to a text message as soon as you receive it. We live in a society that holds connectivity and availability in very high esteem. When you’re in your car and behind the wheel, you’re not available. Pull over to the side of the road or wait until you get to your destination before sending a text message. No message is worth the opportunity cost of taking your focus off the road and endangering the lives of you, your passengers, and other drivers around you.
Help spread the word about the dangers of texting while driving. For more information on the campaign and to take the pledge to not text and drive, view AT&T’s Texting while Driving public education campaign.
Posted by Cory in Cory, Safety, Teens & Cell Phones, Uncategorized Tags: Cory, Safety, Texting
Comments (17)
As the parent of a college and high school student it amazes me how much they rely on their mobile phones to communicate. What amazes me more is how much they use their devices for text messaging vs. talking. What really scares me is when a teenager or anyone tries to text message when behind the wheel of a car.
Driving any vehicle requires the full concentration from the driver. Not only do you need to concentrate on driving, but also on other drivers, obstacles in the road, people on bicycles and other things, such as people in crosswalks or just crossing the street. If someone tries to text message while doing all of these activities the chances of causing or being part of an accident drastically increase. I just think how hard it is to walk and chew gum at the same time.
Driving is something that we all get better at over time. A young driver needs to concentrate and focus on driving and avoid as many distractions as possible. When I started driving in 1976, I was a teenager and thought I knew everything there was to know about driving. I had my driver’s license for less than a month and decided to drive a car full of friends for ice cream on a rainy night. I was trying to drive in the rain while talking, changing the radio and focusing on my friends. That must have been when that large rock jumped in front of my car. Luckily no one was injured (except my pride); however my parents pulled my driving privileges for a month. I can only think this would have been a serious accident if I added text messaging into the mix. But in 1976 we didn’t have mobile phones available.
Below are some tips to remind your children of as well as anyone you know who is driving a vehicle:
- Don’t text and drive. No text message is worth the distraction.
- Ask passengers to help by changing the CD or radio station, placing a cell phone call, or reading directions to you.
- If you don’t have a passenger, wait until you come to a complete stop at a red light or stop sign before changing the CD or radio station.
- If you need to make or take a call or respond to a text, wait until your trip is complete or pull over to do so.
- Never use your phone to take pictures, send and read messages, record video, or watch TV while driving.
- It’s best not to eat and drive at the same time. If you’re traveling with someone, take turns driving while the passenger eats.
- Avoid stressful or emotional conversations while driving.
- Use hands-free options or voice-activated dialing
- Don’t be a “rubbernecker.” Let your passengers do the sightseeing while you drive.
- Make safety your most important call. In the case of an emergency, a cell phone can be a very useful tool. Remember, dialing 911 is always a free call.
Please do what you can to encourage safe driving for your family and friends. Do you have teenagers that drive? Remind them never to text and drive, no message is worth the risk.
Posted by Michael in Michael, Safety, Uncategorized Tags: Michael, Safety, Texting
Comments (3)
Every year my tweens love to get dressed up and go out to trick-or-treat! So every Halloween we discuss as a family the usual “STRANGER DANGER” safety tips. I go over and over with the kids not to go too far and not to leave my sight when we are all together in a pack. I make both the kids carry their cell phones, so if they needed to they can get a hold of me quickly. I also cover the basics like not eating any of the candy until I inspect it all. I always liked this part; this is when you can pick your favorites right out of their pumpkins! Tell them it’s, “bad,” and then eat it (wink wink!).
We all agree as neighbors that at least one of the adults will travel along with the kids since it’s not as safe to let kids walk the streets alone. We send them out with flashlights and glow sticks. Costumes we all know. Leaving parts of their faces showing makes it easier for others as well as yourself to recognize them.
Trick-or-treating isn’t what it used to be. Send a responsible adult or older teenager with them, and a cell phone. Here are some additional Halloween safety tips that I found to be helpful: http://www.halloween-safety.com/halloween_safety_kids.html
Enjoy and have a safe Halloween!
Posted by Stephanie in Just for fun, Safety, Stephanie Tags: Safety, Stephanie
Comments (2)
Honestly, I think AT&T Navigator is one of the best products we offer our customers at AT&T. I use it all the time, but I had a recent incident that made me appreciate it even more.
My sister was having a dinner at her house to celebrate her only son’s 17th birthday. My teenagers arrived earlier and I arrived around 7:30 p.m. because I was panicked by a strange sound coming from my tires. After careful review of each tire, I saw a big piece of metal sticking out of the passenger front tire. The tire was not flat, but I was skeptical about removing it, which may release the air from the tire.
I asked my sister for the nearest shop that could assist and was told there were two in the area.
Off I went around 8 p.m. to find that both locations closed at 7 p.m. Stressed and frightened that my tire may burst at any time, I needed to locate a service center with little delay. I turned to AT&T Navigator for guidance. I searched by category and found Pep Boys and Wal-Mart in the immediate area. I selected Pep Boys because it was closer. Turn-by-turn the Navigator application told me where to go. I’m not sure what I would have done without it.
It was not life or death, but…you know what I mean.
Posted by Priscilla in Priscilla, Safety Tags: GPS, Priscilla, Safety
Comments (1)
Sometimes a busy work day means not having time to check in with my family to see where they are and what they’re up to. So I recently added a trial of AT&T’s FamilyMap service to our family plan. Watch the video below to see just how easy it is for me to check in on my daughter.
Posted by Becky in Becky, How To, Safety Tags: Becky, FamilyMap, Safety
Comments (28)
While on vacation last week, I went into panic mode after I left my 15 year old son at home for a short period of time and discovered my cell phone was dead. I felt so helpless. What if he needed me and I wasn’t available? It donned on me that wireless service, to an extent, provides peace of mind because I’m usually just a phone call away. Do you feel helpless without your phone?
Posted by Calm, Cool & Connected in Dedra, Safety Tags: Dedra
Comments (1)
During the holiday season, I found myself on the road a lot and sitting in traffic like many of you. While at a light, I decided to count the number of people who were on their cell phones, with the phones glued to the side of their heads, and not using hands-free devices. At multiple lights, at least half of the people counted were guilty of this. I took another survey after the holidays and, at one point, seven of the 10 people on their phones weren’t using them hands-free.
For Christmas, I gave two of my kids Bluetooth devices. Now that they are licensed drivers, I think it’s important to help ensure that they are driving safely. In Georgia, using your cell phone without a hands-free device while driving is not against the law, but my question is should it be? What about your state?
Posted by Priscilla in Priscilla, Safety Tags: Bluetooth, hands-free, Priscilla, Safety
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