AT&T has announced that Sweet Home Central High School in Amherst is the winner of a Sabres experience of a lifetime for their efforts in raising awareness of the dangers of texting while driving. AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign, and the Buffalo Sabres came together to challenge 30 area high schools to encourage students, parents and teachers alike to “take the pledge” not to text and drive.
As the winning school with the most pledges collected, the school’s hockey team laced up with Sabres Center Cody Hodgson for a practice session on Monday. In addition, the Sabres and AT&T will visit the school for a special “It Can Wait” assembly scheduled for Monday, March 31.
AT&T first launched the It Can Wait® program in 2009 to educate the public about the dangers of texting while driving and encourage consumers to take the pledge to never text and drive at www.ItCanWait.com. The campaign has inspired more than 4 million pledges.
“We’re challenging all drivers, especially teens; to take the pledge to never text and drive and make it a lifelong commitment,” said Marissa Shorenstein, New York President, AT&T. “Studies show those who send text messages while driving are much more likely to be in a crash.”
Texting while driving causes more than 200,000 car crashes on American roadways each year, according to the National Safety Council1. Research shows that speaking up against texting while driving works.
A ConnectSafely.org survey sponsored by AT&T2 found that:
- Ninety-seven percent of teens surveyed say texting while driving is dangerous – but 75 percent say it’s “common among their friends”
- Adults tell kids not to text while driving, yet according to 77 percent of teens, adults do it “all the time”
For more information on the It Can Wait® campaign, please visit: ItCanWait.com.