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It Can Wait campaign brought to Crestview

Submitted photo Students were enlisted to encourage their friends and families that drivers should keep their eyes on the road, not on their phone. Seated is Crestview High School junior Hope Wilson. Taking part in the presentation were (standing from left) Denise Kuhlman, Brenda Foor and Elisa Rummel of Family Recovery Center; Steve Kristan of AT&T; Tricia Wilson of Family Recovery Center; Trooper Brian Kavanagh of the Ohio State Highway Patrol; and Judy Hawkins and Lynsi Beagle of Family Recovery Center.”

COLUMBIANA — Crestview High School, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Family Recovery Center’s Safe Communities Program had the AT&T It Can Wait campaign at the high school on Friday to talk to students about the dangers of smartphone distracted driving.

The program, which includes a simulator technology to show students what can happen when they take their eyes off the wheel, has been traveling the area since it launched in 2010.

Research shows 7-in-10 people engage in smartphone activities while driving and people are doing much more than texting from behind the wheel.

To drive the message home, AT&T brought an online driving simulator to Crestview High School. It gave students a chance to experience firsthand how dangerous it is to take their eyes off the road and glance at a phone.

“Family Recovery Center’s Safe Communities Program is pleased to work with Crestview High School and AT&T to encourage students and their families to put down their phones and focus on the road,” said Family Recovery Center’s Safe Communities Co-Director Tricia Wilson. “Technology is a wonderful thing when used safely. Together with the AT&T It Can Wait campaign, we encourage responsible driving habits for the safety of everyone on our local roads.”

“Distracted driving is an epidemic on our roadways,” said Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) Director John Born. “We need people all across Ohio to take action in their communities to help put a stop to it.”

“Using a smartphone while driving can be deadly for drivers, passengers, and everyone on the road,” said AT&T External Affairs Director Steve Kristan. “A post, a selfie, a text, a scroll, an email while driving – one look is all it takes. This simulation shows the real consequences of looking at your phone while driving. We want to remind drivers to keep their eyes on the road, not on their phone. It Can Wait.”

People can also use their own smartphone to view a 360° It Can Wait experience at home.

It Can Wait is a national movement urging drivers to keep their eyes on the road, not on their phones–distracted driving is never OK. The campaign began with a focus on not texting and driving. It has now expanded to the broader dangers of smartphone use behind the wheel.

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