Smartphones And Driving: Tate Students Learn ‘It Can Wait’

October 31, 2016

Tate High School students learned about the dangers of smartphone distracted driving Friday as part of the AT&T It Can Wait campaign.

Research shows that people that are doing much more than just texting from behind the wheel, with 7-in-10 people engaging in smartphone activities while driving.

To drive home the message, AT&T’s It Can Wait Virtual Reality simulator stopped at Tate High School. Students watched real life testimonies about the devastating consequences of distracted driving and experienced firsthand the dangers of not keeping your eyes on the road.

It Can Wait is a national movement urging drivers to keep their eyes on the road, not on their phones. The campaign began with a focus on not texting and driving. It has now expanded to the broader dangers of smartphone use behind the wheel.

Pictured: The AT&T It Can Wait program at Tate High School on Friday. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “Smartphones And Driving: Tate Students Learn ‘It Can Wait’”

  1. mick on November 2nd, 2016 2:51 am

    Its unfortunate that this will have very little effect on the texting while driving plague that is on every road in this country – maybe a small number of students will take it to heart and do the right thing…meanwhile the tens of thousands that take to the road everyday will continue to put everyone at risk with the stupidity that texting while driving is – it is just like the lame law the legislators passed on this subject as they continue to text while driving…

  2. nod on November 1st, 2016 1:53 pm

    Anne and Dennis, The subject is texting and driving, not seatbelt use. Not using Seatbelts will only kill your self. Texting while driving kills yourself and other people.

  3. Dennis on November 1st, 2016 9:00 am

    The simulator was originally made for showing the difference in using and not using a seat belt which is another thing that as teenagers needs to be taught and is taught with this. In fact it needs to be taught to a lot of adults(both).

  4. Sage2 on October 31st, 2016 1:20 pm

    This is a tremendous wakeup call for those participating at Tate HS. Yet, every single day on 9 Mile Rd., Hwy 29 or any other locale you will see supposedly mature, responsible ADULTS, men and women with a cellphone pressed against their head and DRIVING. I cringe each and everytime I see these individuals doing what is unacceptable.

    On 10 Mile Rd., a narrow alternative to the racetrack of 9 Mile Rd., there are several occasions in which an on coming vehicle crossed the center line and it was necessary for me to go off the road to avoid being hit!

    Remember, the life you save may be mine! Put down the phones and drive responsibly…PLEASE!!!!!

  5. Anne on October 31st, 2016 11:33 am

    GREAT Idea….hope it sticks with them.

    Observed that the simulator car does Not have Seat Belts which in my own opinion would be the first line of Staying Alive…even in simulators the activity of securing the seatbelt would be a good idea.

    Seatbelts Save Lives….news reports of “…ejected from the vehicle…” usually include a death notice.

  6. anne 1of2 on October 31st, 2016 10:16 am

    Aw, come on! Not one comment? How about this, no one learning to drive needs a cell phone, except in the glove compartment. They are learning to drive. They are also addicted to their cell phones. No one can do both. Anyone who says they can give equal attention to a car and a cell phone at the same time is crazy! No one borrows my car anymore either, lol. Dig up the old driver’s ed movie, “Death On The Highway”. Made believers out of us.