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 keep my phone in my pocketbook and I throw my pocketbook in the backseat.
I keep it in my purse and don’t use it in the car at all.
I always put my phone on silent when I drive but I’m never tempted to grab it either way.
I also put my phone in my purse, zip it up and put it on the backseat. I check messages when I reach my destination.
I generally put my phone on navigation so that nothing pops up while I’m driving. If I’m only going within a ten minute drive, the phone stays in my purse and on the passenger side floor. No need to touch the darn thing now that blue tooth is available.
I don’t bring my phone everywhere and when I do I put it away in the back seat,or even in my purse in the trunk if need be until I get to where I have to be.
I always put my bag in the back or in the trunk so Im not tempted to look at my it. Out of sight out of mind is my concept.
I normally leave my phone in the backseat so I can’t reach it.
I leave the phone in mu purse & out of reach.
Silence your phone when you are driving!
I always text my friends before driving so they know not to text or call me!
Phone on silent and not near you.
you can avoid paying attention to your phone while driving by turning your phone off or ringer off when you drive.
Put the phone on silent and then stick it in the backseat. Still there in case of emergency but not tempting.
I don’t drive…thankfully
Place your phone in your purse and keep it there.
I never talk on the phone while driving.
I put my phone in the back seat along with my purse. That way, I’m not tempted to look at it while driving and I will never accidentally leave my kids in the car!
I silence my phone right before I start driving so that it won’t ring or make sounds that could distract me or temp me to glance at my phone to see who is calling or texting.
I put my phone in my purse & don’t answer it when driving.
Keep it on silent and in my purse.
I only call when it’s important or I know that person isn’t driving.
i always leave my phone where i can’t reach it plus i have bluetooth calling in the car incase someone calls
I don’t text and leave my phone on vibrate
I turn off my phone before I drive and will not turn it on until I reach my destination
I leave my phone in my purse in the backseat of the car. If my phone rings, I pull over to answer.
You shouldn’t drive period while texting or talking.
I frequently pull into a parking lot to answer a text. Not only for my own safety, but as an example to my kids.
I turn my phone off when I drive so I am not tempted to look at it. Or I will keep it in the back of the car where I cant reach it.
Thanks for the reminder and the chance to win!
My phone goes on silent in the car.
No one is more important than my life.
Keep the phone put away in your purse or center console so you aren’t tempted to use it.
I put my phone on silent and put it in the glove compartment.
Turn your phone on silent.
I leave my phone in my purse and simply ignore it while driving.
I put the phone in my purse & let voice mail get it while driving.
I avoid my phone at all costs while I am driving. If it is an important call, I will call or text them when I reach my destination. I don’t even check my phone while on the road, no need to put myself, my kids, or anyone else on the road in danger. Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway!
furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net
I put my phone on silent and tuck it into my purse. I play a favorite cd when I’m alone or talk with my kids to resist any temptations of looking at my phone.
I don’t drive but I always tell my sisters to quit the habit of texting while driving!Focus and remember the consequences!
I just avoid using my phone while driving and wait until I’m stopped.
I usually have my kids in my car with me, I try to set a good example by just ignoring the phone. My car is also equipped with bluetooth so I can talk that way too!
I don’t drive, I’m good.
I don’t use my phone while driving. I let my phone go to voice mail, and check it when I get to my destination.
Don’t use your phone!! Even hands free can sometimes be just as distracting…if you need to make a call,then simply pull over to do so!
I have a zero texting policy and will pull over if I need to make or take/return a call.
I pull over or wait til I get to my destination depending on how urgent the text or call is.
I just keep my phone in my purse when I’m driving!
The phone stays in the purse behind the seat.
I put my cell phone in the jockey box when driving to avoid having to answer it or looking aat a text or tweet. I do not take it out until I am stopped.
The best way to avoid smartphone-related distracted driving is to drive with your phone off.