WHEREAS, Philadelphia holds the health and safety of its citizens as a paramount concern; and
WHEREAS, Smartphone driving distractions have grown beyond texting to include social media applications, web surfing, selfies, video chatting as well as other distractions; and
WHEREAS, The
It Can Wait
program and pledge launched over 5 years ago by AT&T, brought to our attention the dangers of distracted driving and gave us the slogan that “no text is worth a life”; and
WHEREAS, 7-in-10 people still engage in smartphone activities while driving and sixty-two percent keep their smartphones within easy reach while driving; and
WHEREAS, As of October 2014, sixty-four percent of American adults own a smartphone and an even greater eighty-five percent of young adults (aged 18-29) are smartphone owners according to the Pew Research Center; and
WHEREAS, Forty-nine percent of commuters and forty-three percent of teens admit to texting and driving; and
WHEREAS, The National Safety Council reports that texting while driving is a factor in more than 200,000 vehicle crashes each year, often causing injuries and deaths; and
WHEREAS, Twenty-two percent of people who access social networks while driving cite smartphone addiction as a reason; and
WHEREAS, The “no text is worth a life” slogan has evolved into “no text, search, post, view or email is worth a life;” now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby declare September 19th to be
It Can Wait
Pledge Day in the City of Philadelphia.
End