New research shows that 7-in-10 drivers say their smartphone has become essential for getting around. But using your phone behind the wheel can be deadly.
The future of mobile communications and transportation are bright. Since we launched our It Can Wait distracted driving prevention program a decade ago, we’ve seen these two worlds evolve at lightning speed. And in many cases, even merge.
New research shows that 7-in-10 drivers say [1] their smartphone has become essential for getting around. But using your phone behind the wheel can be deadly. Smartphone distracted driving has become so normal it’s treated as the status quo – when in fact it’s an epidemic. Our latest research1 revealed a sharp rise in the consumption of immersive content behind the wheel. Video watching and video chatting while driving doubled compared to 2015 [2].
In the future, 5G will usher in a new era of communications. Capabilities like advanced in-car navigation and automated vehicles that nearly 6-in-10 drivers say could prevent distracted driving give us hope for a better future. 1 But until that day, we will continue to remind people: Please don’t drive distracted.
In our newest It Can Wait advertisement, we collaborated with award-winning filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow to give us a glimpse into that future, with a reminder that the fight to end distracted driving will not be over any time soon.
The warning is timely. Our most recent research shows attitudes toward the dangers of distracted driving are softening, and the behaviors are getting worse. And it’s not just in cars anymore. It now includes new forms of transportation like e-scooters and motorized bikes.
So how are we addressing this evolution?
We’re continuing to raise awareness of the dangers of smartphone distracted driving, to offer social and technology tools to help people stop, and to collaborate with others.
Take the first step to a future without distracted driving by taking the pledge at ItCanWait.com. Because until cars can drive themselves, It Can Wait.
[1] Research commissioned by AT&T and Braun Research. A 10-minute online survey was fielded among a nationally representative sample of 2081 Americans from March 8, 2019 through March 14, 2019 to understand their own driving behaviors and perceptions towards distracted driving. Respondents must be between the ages of 16 & 65, use a smartphone at least one a day, and driver at least “almost every day”. The margin of error is +/-2 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.
[2] Research commissioned by AT&T and Braun Research. A 15-minute cellphone survey among a nationally representative sample of 2067 American drivers. Additional information can be found here: https://about.att.com/story/smartphone_use_while_driving_grows_beyond_texting.html
Published Apr 10, 2019 2pm EDT / 11am PDT / 7pm BST / 8pm CEST