Morrisville State College University Police educate about distracted driving

MORRISVILLE, NY — Morrisville State College University Police, the Student Government Organization and AT&T partner to educate students about the dangers of smartphone distracted driving.



University Police officers participate in campus socials and educational programs throughout the year to educate, promote positive interaction, and encourage open communication. At this month’s ice cream social, AT&T brought their new virtual reality simulator to campus allowing students and faculty to experience firsthand how dangerous it can be to take their eyes off the road and look at their smartphone. The simulator demonstrates true life hazards of all smartphone activities while driving in 3D virtual reality



The program is part of AT&T’s It Can Wait campaign, a national movement urging drivers to keep their eyes on the road, not on their phones. What started as a campaign focused on not texting and driving has now expanded its focus to the broader dangers of smartphone use behind the wheel. 



AT&T research shows that seven in 10 people engage in smartphone activities while driving. While 95 percent of drivers disapprove of distracted driving, it leads to more than 431,000 crashes a year. 



“We understand the potentially devastating consequences of distracted driving, and we know that if people misuse smartphones and other devices while behind the wheel, they risk injuring or killing themselves and others,” said Kevin Hanna, regional director of external affairs at AT&T. “Our mission is education, and our message is simple: No text, email, social media update, or photo is worth your life. Keep your eyes on the road, not your phone. It Can Wait!”



Morrisville State College students were encouraged to take the “It Can Wait” pledge, to never drive distracted. Their pledges added to more than 15 million others to keep eyes on the road, not on phones.



Morrisville State’s curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs. 



The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges 2017 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2017 Best Colleges rankings.