Senator Griffo is partnering with Sangertown Square mall, local law enforcement, and AT&T to bring a 3D virtual reality driving simulator demonstrating the dangers of distracted driving to the mall. On August 13th, the simulator will be available for the public to experience firsthand how using a phone while driving can endanger oneself and others. Reporters will have a preview event at 8:30am with officials to learn about the simulator and campaign against distracted driving before it opens to the public from 10am to 4pm. The simulator aims to show drivers the real consequences of taking eyes off the road to use a phone through an immersive virtual reality experience.

1. For more information, contact:
Benjamin Roberts
716.282.5883 / ben.roberts@att.com
SENATOR GRIFFO PARTNERS WITH SANGERTOWN SQUARE, LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND AT&T TO BRING ITS NEW NATIONALLY-TOURING 3D VIRTUAL REALITY
SIMULATOR TO THE MALL TO DEMONSTRATE THE DANGERS OF SMARTPHONE
DISTRACTED DRIVING
“It Can (All) Wait” When Behind the Wheel
WHO: New research shows that every 7 out of 10 people engage in smartphone activities whiledriving.1
– but the problem goes beyond just texting from behind the wheel. They’re checking email, posting
to social, and even snapping selfies. To drive home these new findings with the message “ItCan
(All) Wait,” AT&T has teamed up with the New York State SenatorJosephA. Griffo,
SangertownSquare,NewYorkState Police,NewHartfordPolice Department,Oneida
CountySheriff’sOffice andOneidaCountyDepartmentofTrafficSafety tobring the AT&T
nationally-touring 3D virtual reality simulator to the New Hartford mall, offering the public the
opportunity to experience firsthand how dangerous it can be when you take youreyes off the
road to look at your phone. The 3D virtual reality simulator willbe free and open to the public to
take a test drive at the mall – one of its 100 stops during a nationwide tour.
WHEN: Thursday,August13, 2015 – 8:30a.m. preview,then 10 a.m. to 4 a.m.
***8:30 A.M. MEDIA PREVIEW:Reportersare invited to an early preview event inside the
Sangertown Square Mall, where Senator Griffo,AT&T, New YorkState Police TroopD Commander
Major Francis Coots, Trooper JackKeller, a member of the Oneida County Sheriff'sOffice,New
Hartford PoliceChief Michael Inserra and Oneida County Department of Traffic Safety Director
Thomas Giruzzi will speak about the dangers of smartphone distractions whiledriving and how
this virtual reality simulator can help discourage the public fromthat behavior. Several youths
from the New Hartford School Districtare also expected to attend the event to use the simulator
and share their thoughts about the experience.
Senator Griffoand reporters/photojournalists/videographers will also be invited to try the
simulator as well,and all officialswill be available afterward forinterviews with the media.
10 a.m. to 4p.m.: The virtual reality simulator and educational materials will remain inside the
mall during this time to be used by any passing shoppers of any age.
WHERE: SangertownSquareMall,8555Seneca Turnpike, New Hartford, NY 13413
The simulator will be set up in Center Court and all mall entrances willbe open
WHAT: While behind the wheel of a vehicle, everything can change in the blink of an eye. A social media
post, a selfie, a text, a scroll, an email — one lookis all it takes. This new simulator shows the real
consequences of looking at your phone whiledriving.
Samsung, Bose and Google are supporting the immersive tour experience, which is delivered
through Samsung Gear VR, with premium sound from Bose QuietComfort® 25 Acoustic Noise
Cancelling® Headphones.

2. Google Cardboard will make it possible forpeople to use their own smartphones to see the 3D
virtual reality program. To learn more about how youcan experience this program at home, visit
www.ItCanWait.com/VR.
The experience is part of AT&T’s It Can Wait campaign, whichurges drivers to visit
www.ItCanWait.com, where they can pledge to keep their eyes on the road, not on their phone, and
share their pledge withothers via Twitter(#ItCanWait) and Facebook. What started as a
campaign focused on not texting and driving has now expanded its focus to the broader dangers
of smartphone use behind the wheel. Since its launch in 2010, the campaign has:
 Helped drive awareness of the dangers of texting while driving to about 90% for all
audiences surveyed.
 Inspired more than seven million pledges to not text and drive.
 Worked withdepartments of transportation in various states on research that suggests a
correlation between It Can Wait campaign activities and a reduction in crashes.
VISUALS: Virtual reality simulator
Opportunity forreporters/videographers/photojournalists to experience simulator
Interview opportunities with simulator “drivers,” Senator Griffo,AT&T executives, New York
State PoliceTroop DCommander Major Francis Coots, Trooper JackKeller, a representative from
the Oneida County Sheriff'sOffice,New Hartford PoliceChief Michael Inserra, and Oneida County
Department of Traffic Safety DirectorThomas Giruzzi.
Several youths from the New Hartford School District
It Can Wait sizzle reel
1 Research commissioned by AT&T and conducted by Braun Research. Polled 2,067 peoplein theU.S. aged 16-65 who usetheir
smartphoneand driveat least onceaday. Additional information available here.