12.28.10 - 1:00PM
- by
Christine Friar

AT&T's Anti Texting While Driving PSA Will Make You Cry (The One)

topic:
Videos
Tech
PSA
The One

In March 2010, AT&T launched a campaign called 'Texting Can Wait', aimed at educating the public about how dangerous it is to text while you're driving.

As part of that campaign, they released a short film cum PSA called 'The Last Text' earlier this month that documents the stories of individuals whose lives have been forever changed because of texting behind the wheel.

It's heartbreaking to see the way that something as simple as a text asking "where r u?" has destroyed these people's lives, but it's also an important reminder that this technology we love so much can impact something beyond your running commentary on your high score in Angry Birds.

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12.29.10

By Morgan

Neutral

This could just as easily be called The Last Mascara or The Last Breakfast Sandwich. And the cop that starts the show, if he's equipped normally, has a laptop he's running plates on constantly while driving.

Any distraction can cause an accident. Our driving fatality rates are the lowest in history, and having laws based on an activity rather than the quality of driving just leads to more reasons you can be pulled over, it doesn't increase the quality of driving. It does not reduce deaths (http://www.google.com/search?q=texting+laws+decrease+accidents). If you're driving poorly you can already be pulled over, and many people, such as police and others can and do multitask safely daily. Is it ideal? No. Will it change? No.

The laws just mean the person has their eyes at the floor of the car while they're texting, instead of maybe holding it on the steering wheel where you can see the road. I doubt too many people will agree, but the laws make inevitable texting even less safe.

No more unnecessary laws, and no more tearjerker anecdotal reasons for more laws that make an unsafe practice even less safe.

12.29.10

By smi04

Highest Rank

I did not see anything about introducing new laws in the video. If more films like his got the message across, no new laws would need to be introduced. One could say the creators and yourself want to see the same thing.

"The laws just mean the person has their eyes at the floor of the car while they're texting, instead of maybe holding it on the steering wheel where you can see the road. I doubt too many people will agree, but the laws make inevitable texting even less safe."

This though is completely idiotic; watch the security footage of the driver in the film holding the phone on the wheel. It makes no difference at all.

1.04.11

By Jimmy D

Highest Rank

Yeah, nice try, Morgan... But your troll-fu is weak. So just because other things cause accidents too we shouldn't even try to make things better. Brilliant logic. The whole "it's inevitable so why bother" mentality is a losing argument. It's also bloody transparent that you're just fighting for your own "right" to text & drive dangerously....

"If you're driving poorly you can already be pulled over, and many people, such as police and others can and do multitask safely daily."

Wait. Let me guess. You just happen to be one of those people. Wow! Maybe I can get your autograph or something one of these days.

1.01.11

By Teresa Breen

Highest Rank

I am first of all very grateful for AT&T doing this but for some reason they did not show our son's portion that we taped but maybe they will. His last text was "Yeah T" and has been airing on tv. Our son was 23, a United States Marine, father and brother and yes knew better then to text and drive but for some reason on March 15, 2009 he did and paid the price... Our son was home getting paperwork in line for his then 2 year old daughter before his deployment when this happened. Not 24 hours before his accident my husband told our son "Put that phone down, it is taking over your life" and then we recieved "That" phone call at 9:22 p.m. that NO parent ever wants to receive... I speak every chance I get about this and the last thing I ask people, Look at your last text and tell me, is it really worth dying over or killing someone else?? Thank you for your time...

Teresa Breen

1.06.11

By putt4par

Neutral

Glad these videos are out there....but you have to wonder how much good they are doing. Statistics show that drivers 16-25 are much more likely to have accidents regardless of the reason - less experience, distracted driving, etc. Making new laws to prohibit texting or using a phone while driving don't do much if anything to keep everyone else safe on the road. They just enacted a no texting and hands free only law in my state, and I see more people than ever during my daily commute texting and using their cell phone. Eating while driving, having a van full of kids, having the radio turned up and jamming to your favorite song - these distractions are just as bad theoretically as texting while driving, yet they are still "allowed." The key factor is driver age and experience - period. I'm not saying texting while driving SHOULD be allowed - just don't portray this as the be all to end all (local, state and federal gov't)