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
YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY
3D Experience Teaches Drivers the Dangers of Distracted Driving
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, Nov. 12, 2015 — AT&T* today teamed up with Youngstown State
University 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
Youngstown State University. Students, faculty and 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, often times causing
serious injury or death. Programs like this are essential to raise awareness about the importance of
driving distraction-free,” said State Representative John Boccieri. “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 Steve Kristan, 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 Youngstown State University 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 Erin Driscoll, YSU director of Student Activities. “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.”
2. 2
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
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