Parents say it. Teachers say it. Even Oprah tells her audiences it’s dangerous to text and drive. Now, AT&T has released a Youtube video in the hopes that today’s generation of multitasking social networkers will get the message. Their campaign is called “Txting and driving. It can wait.”
The video features real people who’ve lost loved ones and others who hurt somebody or themselves. One young man who killed a bicyclist says, “If someone were to ask me to drive down the road and close your eyes for 5 or 6 seconds, I would never even attempt that.” He admits texting and driving is virtually the same thing.
A man paralyzed by a crash while texting longs for his former life. “I used to be able to drive. I used to be able to go for walks. I used to have a job. I can’t do it anymore because of a text.”
A girl dies on the highway, her high school cap and gown in the car, ready for graduation events the next day. “Where u at?” was the meaningless message she was sending before she crashed into a bridge and died on impact.
Chances are good your kids will listen to your lecture, then forget what you’ve said as soon as they depart from your driveway. They might remember this powerful video a little longer. And, while we’re at it, we old-timers could use the reminder, too. LOL? WTH? Don’t make these your famous last words.
