For Immediate Release
August 16, 2012
Washington, D.C.—The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement in response to AT&T’s announcement of September 19th’s “No Text on Board Pledge Day” aimed at building an echo chamber around the issue of distracted driving.
Advancements in technology and improved access have been great in the past few years. At the same time, while we have shifted to a society that increasingly sends text messages as a way to communicate, people sometimes engage in risky behaviors to accommodate that growing trend, including texting while driving. This practice endangers the lives of many.
APIAHF is committed to promoting and protecting the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders across the nation and supports efforts including AT&T’s ‘It Can Wait’ initiative that seek to make all communities safer and healthier. Similar to safety efforts of the past, including child car seats and seatbelts, this initiative will help to prevent injury and decrease mortality from preventable causes. We call on our partners and others to visit www.itcanwait.com to learn more about the issue and sign a pledge to stop texting while driving.