At a time were graduations, proms and summer travel are about to begin, mobile operator AT&T announced a 4 year initiative against texting while driving.

Under the campaign titled “Txtng & Drivng … It Can Wait”, the company will develop a program of 40 student ambassadors through the National Organizations for Youth Safety.  These ambassadors will have the difficult task of educating drivers on the dangers of texting while driving.  In October 2011, all student ambassadors will join officials in Washington, D.C., for a first-ever youth summit on preventing texting while driving. 

Laura Sanford, assistant vice president, Corporate Contributions at AT&T, assures the company is committed to reduce texting while driving on the roads.

“While this message is a critical one for adults and youth alike, we’re continuing to focus much of our efforts on teen outreach,” she said. “Not only are they typically drivers, but according to a recent Pew Internet Research study, the average teen sends and receives five times more text messages a day than a typical adult. This contribution represents our ongoing commitment to promote responsible ways of using our technology, because ultimately, no text is worth losing a life.”

This is the second initiative from AT&T regarding texting while driving.  In 2010, the company launched a documentary, “The Last Text,” on the same issue.

Source: AT&T Press Release, May 12, 2011

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5. New York State’s Illogical View on Texting