AT&T has released a very powerful Public Service Announcement (PSA) documentary on YouTube about the dangers of texting & driving right in time for New Years Eve. According to the AT&T press release, New Years Eve is the most dangerous day on the road each year. The documentary is 10 minutes 44 seconds long and each and every one of those seconds is something you should watch and show to everyone you know who drives and owns a cell phone. This is something that everyone should see and kudos to AT&T for putting it out there.

The video contains interviews with those affected by tragic outcomes that can occur due to people texting and driving. Some of the people tell the story firsthand because they survived, some people’s stories are told by their loved ones because they are no longer with us. There’s an interview with a police officer about arriving at the scene of one of the accidents and an interview with a person in his early 20s or late teens who killed someone because he was texting while driving and didn’t see the person in front of his car. He talks about the emotional trauma and guilt he has over the incident even though he came away from it, physically, without a scratch.

[Link For Mobile Viewing]

“This documentary is a raw look at the reality and hazards of texting while driving, and we hope it will make wireless customers think twice before pulling out their cell phones in the driver’s seat,” said Cathy Coughlin, senior executive VP and global marketing officer for AT&T. “As a global telecommunications company, it is our responsibility to bring these risks to light, especially now during the holiday season and as we approach New Year’s Eve.”

Currently in Canada these provinces: British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan have all banned the use of electronic devices while driving.Alberta’s law targeting distracted driving will be in effect mid-2011. New Brunswick also has passed a law and it will begin enforcement in early 2011 although the city of Moncton has had a ban in place since April 2010. The legislators in the Yukon Territory are currently debating a ban that if passed would go into effect April 2011. In the Northwest Territories legislators are beginning to push for a ban as well although nothing has been set in motion or enacted as of yet and if/when they change their law Nunavut will change with them because Nunavut currently uses the same law as the Northwest Territories. The CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) is pushing for provinces to ban ALL use of cellphones while driving including use with a handsfree device.

I hope everyone out there has a safe and happy New Year and holiday season.
For More Info

AT&T Full Press Release here

AT&T’s “It Can Wait” site here

Link to the YouTube AT&T Don’t Text While Driving Documentary here

Story About CAA Trying To Get Ban On Handsfree Devices here