Final hh - 15.11.10 - columbus icw vr release

1. For more information, contact:
Holly Hollingsworth
AT&T Corporate Communications
614-223-5711
holly.hollingsworth@att.com
AT&T BRINGS NEW VIRTUAL REALITY SIMULATOR TO
COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS BUS DRIVERS
3D Experience Teaches Drivers the Dangers of Distracted Driving
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 10, 2015 — AT&T* today teamed up with Columbus City Schools to
highlight the dangers of distracted driving. New research shows that 7-in-10 people engage in
smartphone activities while driving.** People are doing much more than texting from behind the
wheel.
To drive home the message and these new findings, AT&T brought a virtual reality simulator to a
Columbus City Schools bus garage with Columbus City Councilmember Shannon G. Hardin. Bus
drivers and other transportation staff experienced firsthand how dangerous it is to take their eyes
off the road and look at a phone.
“Driver distraction has been proven to be a significant cause of car crashes, many causing serious
injury or death. Programs like this are essential to raise awareness about the importance of driving
distraction-free,” said Columbus City Councilmember Shannon G. Hardin. “We encourage all
drivers to take this time to make the commitment toward safer and distraction-free driving.”
“Using a smartphone while driving can be deadly – for drivers, their passengers and for everyone
on the road,” said Nicole Staples Walker, Director, External Affairs, AT&T. “A post, a selfie, a text,
a scroll, an email while driving -- one look is all it takes. This new simulation shows the real
consequences of looking at your phone while driving, and together with Columbus City Schools we
want to remind drivers to keep their eyes on the road, not on their phone. It can wait.”
“Today’s drivers are engaging in far too many smartphone distractions behind the wheel that are
very dangerous and potentially deadly,” said Columbus City Schools Transportation Director Steve

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Simmons. “We are thrilled to partner with AT&T on this event to encourage all drivers to put down
their phones and keep their focus on the road.”
In addition to the new VR resources and tour, AT&T’s new ad campaign will help broaden
recognition that the smartphone distracted driving problem is bigger than texting. Through slow-
motion cinematography, 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.
Viewers can find the 30-second spots featured in national TV programming and on ItCanWait.com.
They can also visit AT&T’s YouTube page to view the 30-second spots and the full-length feature.
AT&T and the Ohio Department of Public Safety are also inviting Ohio high school students to
submit ideas for video messages discouraging smartphone distractions behind the wheel. Students
may send written video scripts or concepts to ODPS in December and January for the It Can
Wait/Safer Ohio Video Challenge. Several students will have their ideas selected for production in
2016.
Students can send a video script or description up to 700 words to communications@dps.ohio.gov
between December 1 and January 31. AT&T and ODPS will select up to six and The Ohio Channel
will produce these for ODPS. Students who submit a selected idea will receive a prize package
including a wireless tablet from AT&T. Those who want to submit a video idea can find guidelines
at http://www.publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/odps15videochallenge.pdf.
It Can Wait is a national movement urging drivers to visit www.ItCanWait.com. They can pledge on
the site to keep their eyes on the road, not on their phone. Then, they can share their pledge via
Twitter (#ItCanWait) and Facebook. The campaign started by focusing on not texting and driving. It
has now expanded to the broader dangers of smartphone use behind the wheel. Since its launch in
2010, it has:
 Helped drive awareness of the dangers of texting while driving to about 90 percent for all
audiences surveyed
 Inspired more than 7 million pledges not to text and drive

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 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
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the
AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
**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.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, mobile, high speed
Internet and voice services. We’re the world’s largest provider of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S.
and 11 Latin American countries. In the U.S., our wireless network has the nation’s strongest 4G LTE signal
and most reliable 4G LTE. We offer the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider*. And we help
businesses worldwide serve their customers better with our mobility and highly secure cloud solutions.
Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at http://about.att.com. Follow our news
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Signal strength and reliability claims based on nationwide carriers’ 4G LTE. Signal strength claim based
ONLY on avg. 4G LTE signal strength. 4G LTE not available everywhere.
*Global coverage claim based on offering discounted voice and data roaming; LTE roaming; voice roaming;
and world-capable smartphone and tablets in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier. International
service required. Coverage not available in all areas. Coverage may vary per country and be
limited/restricted in some countries.