Distracted driving car accidents continue to cause a lot of pain and suffering on American roadways. Since cell phone usage has reversed a decades-long decline in the annual number of car accidents, safety advocates have been waging public information campaigns for years. Now, the trade publication Ad Age reports that AT&T has revived its powerful “It Can Wait” public service campaign. The telecom giant launched the program in 2010.
AT&T is the country’s second-largest wireless provider and spends nearly $4 billion a year on marketing and advertising. By all accounts, the campaign began as a sincere effort to reduce the number of distracted driving accidents caused by misuse of cell phones and other gadgets while driving. While there are certain benefits to the brand in the long-run, the company reportedly sees little immediate tangible return. Nonetheless, it has doubled down on the country’s largest distracted driving public awareness campaign.
New Effort to Reduce Distracted Driving Car Accidents
The new push to raise awareness about distracted driving car accidents includes a series of videos directed by documentary filmmaker Errol Morris. The videos tell stories of lives cut short by distracted driving. Emotional and very compelling, the stories, like the earlier “It Can Wait” efforts, do succeed in connecting with the target audience. The company has worked very hard to reach new drivers and young adults, those who most use social media. (AT&T sponsors Android Central’s Mobile Nations Reader Meet Ups.) The latest effort includes a Virtual Reality video. But producers say that while they have achieved the goal of reaching the people they want, they haven’t really changed behavior.
For instance, their earlier videos to raise awareness about distracted driving have millions of views. Nearly 25 million drivers have taken the pledge to avoid distracted driving. However, getting the message to people is one thing. Actually getting them to change their behavior is a different matter. The company says their research shows that 9 out of 10 drivers are still engaging in distracted driving.
If distracted driving has harmed you or a loved one, contact the Orlando car accident attorneys at Martinez Manglardi. With office throughout Central Florida, we have been helping accident victims recover losses for over 30 years. Call
407-846-2240 for a free consultation.
