AT&T: 70 percent of drivers use smartphones on the road
AT&T is urging people to stop using smartphones foolishly — and illegally — while driving.
The company said its research shows that 70 percent of drivers are using their smartphones for tasks that take their eyes off the road, including texting and web surfing.
As part of its "It Can Wait" campaign, the company was in downtown Minneapolis this week letting people use a driving simulator to see how dangerous it is to text and drive.
Stephen Dye of Minneapolis took the challenge and failed. He said he's not someone who'll text and drive but he sees far too many people do it.
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"Every day to and from work, you'll people preoccupied, looking down or pulling away from the light slow or failing to pull off when the light turns green," Dye said. "I really hope that people would take the initiative to change their own behavior as opposed to taking one of those other routes, as far as a ticket or harming somebody or someone's family."
AT&T spokeswoman Jessica Erickson said the company also offers an app that lets drivers automatically respond to texts and calls.
"It's going to send an automatic message back to those people letting them know you're driving," Erickson said. "Then once they get somewhere safely, they can reply to people.
Minnesotans face $50 fines for texting or otherwise going online while driving. In August, the fine for subsequent offenses goes to $225, plus courts costs. AT&T says more than 6.5 million people have pledged not to text and drive in connection with the carrier's "It Can Wait" campaign.