Students at Langley High School Learn About Dangers of Distracted Driving

The third-annual event was organized by Betsy Shomaker from the schools PTSA Family Network Committee. Representatives from AT&T, INOVA Fairfax Hospital and State Farm Insurance participated.

Langley students were able to safely experience what happens if they take their eyes off the road to look at their smart phones through an immersive, virtual reality experience using Samsung Gear VR.

Students took It Can Wait pledge and received other background information to educate them on the consequences of using a smartphone while driving.

In addition community events like the one at Langley High School, AT&T’s ad campaign helps broaden recognition that the smartphone distracted driving problem is bigger than texting.

Viewers are able to see the jarring aftermath of taking their eyes off the road to glance at or tap on a smartphone while driving. The new spots, entitled “The Unseen,” are featured in national TV programming and on ItCanWait.com. Visit AT&T’s YouTube page to view the The Unseen and other recent public-service announcements.

Since its launch in 2010, the It Can Wait campaign has:

• Helped grow awareness of the dangers of smartphone distracted driving to more than 90% of audiences surveyed. Inspired more than 10 million pledges – and counting – to keep their eyes on the road, not on their phones.

• Resulted in more than 3 million downloads of the AT&T DriveMode app.

• Worked with departments of transportation in Texas, Kentucky and other states on research that suggests a correlation between It Can Wait campaign activities and a reduction in crashes.

• Collaborated with AT&T data scientists on research that shows how statewide anti-texting laws impact the rate of texting while driving.

Visit www.ItCanWait.com to learn more and join the conversation with #ItCanWait.