This is a sponsored post brought to you by AT&T – It Can Wait and Distracted Driving
Our daughter waited anxiously until she turned 13 to be able to sit in the front seat of the car. She had been asking to sit in the front seat ever since she became a tween. But for safety purposes, I learned that kids under 13 should remain in the back seat of the car. And so after her 13th birthday, she happily took her place in the passenger seat next to me (leaving her two younger sisters behind in the back seat.)
For the most part, I love having her in the front seat next to me. And I only have concerns about a few things, like why won’t she keep her hands off of my radio. Now that she is sitting in the front seat, I can’t listen to my favorite songs. Or worse than that, she turns the station while I am singing a song I like. When a song gets me to the point where I am singing out loud, I am really feeling it. And that’s exactly when she decides to take her skinny little fingers and change the station.
But on a more serious note, I am also concerned about her safety. Even though she is 13, is it still safe for her to sit in the front seat. Will the airbag hurt her if it deploys. Or worse than that, will any of my actions harm her?
She is sitting in that seat and she is watching me. She sees if I am speeding and she watches to see if I am distracted by the cellphone or with her siblings in the back seat. Now, more than ever, I need to make sure that I am setting a proper example for my daughter to follow. Because in 3 short years, she will be behind the wheel and she could be emulating my bad driving habits or my good driving habits. I’d prefer the latter.
As a part of their It Can Wait campaign, AT&T just released a very sobering survey about Smartphone use while driving to help drive awareness of the dangers of smartphone use behind the wheel, and to encourage life-saving behavior change.
“When we launched It Can Wait five years ago, we pleaded with people to realize that no text is worth a life,” said Lori Lee, AT&T’s global marketing officer. “The same applies to other smartphone activities that people are doing while driving. For the sake of you and those around you, please keep your eyes on the road, not on your phone.”
According to the survey, Smartphone activities people say they do while driving include:
- 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%)
Other unsettling findings include:
- 62% keep their smartphones within easy reach while driving.4
- 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.
(Research commissioned by AT&T and conducted by Braun Research. Polled 2,067 people in the U.S. aged 16-65 who use their smartphone and drive at least once a day. Additional information available here.)
Wow, what’s so important on those phones that we are willing to risk the lives of our loved ones and others to see? When I read the survey, it reminded me to get more serious about eliminating my smartphone use while I am driving. My biggest culprits are texts and emails. No text or email is worth a life!
In order to spread the word and raise awareness of the dangers of smartphone use behind the wheel, I’ve partnered with AT&T to bring you this awesome giveaway. And each time you enter to win and share this giveaway on social media, you are not only increasing your odds of winning, but you are also helping to spread the word.
Prize Description:
One lucky winner will win an It Can Wait Swag Bag (valued at $1000.) The contents of the bag will include:
- A Samsung Galaxy S6,
- a phone case,
- a Beats by Dre Pill,
- a selfie stick,
- ICW stickers,
- a tee and thumb rings.
- This will all come in a fun tote.
How to Enter:
Follow the instructions below. There is one mandatory step to enter. All others are optional and give you additional chances to win. Please be sure to read the terms and conditions as this giveaway is for US residents only that are 18 years or older.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This post is brought to you by AT&T. I have partnered with them to spread the word about It Can Wait and Distracted Driving . All opinions are my own.
I put my phone in my purse and the purse in the back seat so I won’t be tempted to turn it on.
I need to do that too!
I keep my phone in my purse so I can’t reach my phone when I’m driving.
I just don’t use my phone when driving
I keep my cell phone on vibrate while driving, you will receive calls and notifications but won’t hear them while the car is in drive.
I silence my phone while I’m in the car.
I don’t ever text/read texts or use my phone while driving. I like to focus on the road.
When driving my phone stays in my purse. I try to stress to my sons to put their phones on silent and ignore them completely while driving.
When driving my phone stays in my pocket.
My Tip Is To Turn Phone Off While Driving, It Keeps Everyone Safe!
I hold my kids while driving put your phone on silent and check it when you get where your going.
I put my phone out of reach so I’m not tempted to check it while driving.
I shut my phone off and put it in the back so I can’t use it when driving.
I put my phone away and wait until I am at my destination to use it.
Entered the Rafflecopter as “Wild Orchid”
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
The cell phone is NOT the boss of me. It can wait till I get to my destination.
I keep my phone turned off and zipped in my purse. We don’t have a texting option either, so that is one distraction I don’t have.
Wear “Thumb” socks on your thumbs and pointer fingers so that you can’t text or use the phone without removing them first!
When I drive I always turn my phone off or put it on silent and shove it in the console, it keeps me from being distracted when driving.
I pledged to #x back when I was in high school and send it out to all my friends before I drive. Its just has become a habit and people know that I won’t respond to anything until I send a all clear message afterwards.
Put your phone in your purse and put your purse in the backseat.
I always keep my phone put away while driving, so no temptations.
I don’t use my phone while driving. Checking it can wait until I am stopped.
I’m sure it wouldn’t work for everyone, but the ad that I watched a while back from It Can Wait campaign really hit me. When I think I need to send a text while driving I think, “how would I explain to someone that my text was more important than their child’s life?” Like I said, not for everyone but that’s what works for me.
mrsbrockavich48 (at)gmail (dot)com
What I do to prevent smartphone use while driving is I be too broke to afford a smartphone! lol #problemsolved
turn your phone off while driving
To avoid distraction simply put the phone on silent. To avoid the urge to check on it.
I just turn my phone off when driving. People are too attached to their phones.
I don’t pick up the phone unless I pull over and stop the car…or if I need directions I ask someone who’s with me to check them.
My phone stays in my purse and before I drive I let my husband know I will be unavailable
I simply just don’t use it. I keep it in my purse within reach in case of an emergency but I do not use it.
I never, never, never use my phone while driving. It stays in my purse always while driving. My life and my family are much more important than a silly phone. Thanks for the chance!
I put my phone in my purse while driving so I’m not tempted to talk, text, or surf the internet while driving.
When driving I turn my phone off!
I simply refuse to answer my phone or text at any time while driving. It’s not worth losing my life.
I turn off my phone while I drive so I’m not even temped
It’s really easy to not be distracted by the smartphone while driving, TURN IT OFF.
I would say only one sentence: Nothing will lose if we wait two minutes till we reach the safe place the using phone again!!!
Don’t talk or text while driving just drive and leave the smart phone alone.
I just avoid using my phone when I don’t need it
I have two teenage drivers and a young adult driver. Distracted driving is always a hot topic in our home. It’s something we talk about a lot. I try to set a good example by not using my phone (or any other distractions) while I’m driving.
I just leave it in my purse so I’m not tempted!
I don’t have any tricks for not using the phone while driving, I just don’t do it. I don’t bother turning it off as it will notify me if someone calls. If it actually switches to driving mode (hit or miss) it will announce who is calling so I know if I should pull over and call them back immediately or if it can wait. I don’t stash it somewhere I can’t reach it while driving or otherwise “hide” it. None of that is ever required. It doesn’t take very many brain cells to figure out what I should and shouldn’t do behind the wheel.
Ignore your cellphone while driving!
I keep my phone on a handsfree car mode and then only answer calls, never texting etc.
I realize how dangerous it is to text and drive so that keeps me from sneaking a peak at my phone or texting back.. If I feel it is important, I will pull over..
Phone stays zipped up in my purse or in my 6 year old’s hands (if he was good at school) and he does not let go. 🙂
I leave my phone in my purse in which I typically can’t hear it ding or ring.
It is so important to raise our children knowing that texting while driving is terrible – just like not wearing your seatbelt. When you start young it can mold their future habits. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
Just turn it off (or at least on silent!) so you’re not even tempted to check your phone when you hear it go off. I might not do anything on my phone but when I hear the notification for a text or whatever, it’s so tempting to check it!
I put my phone out of reach when I’m in the car so I can’t just reach for it