AT&T launches campaign against texting and driving

AT&T has launched an 11-minute video designed to augment its anti-texting-and-driving campaign launched in March. The video is intended to reach consumers before New Year's Eve.

Called "The Last Text," the video tells stories about people whose lives were adversely affected by texting while driving, including the parents of Mariah West, who died after texting "Where u at?" to a friend.

AT&T is distributing the film to schools, safety organizations and government agencies and on its YouTube channel. The video is part of AT&T's "It Can Wait" TV, print and online campaign. The campaign includes a Facebook page where friends can take a pledge not to text and drive.

Texting behind the wheel is a growing problem. The Department of Transportation says that 5,500 people were killed last year because of distracted driving, and the largest proportion of those fatalities involved people younger than 20. Meanwhile, the Pew Internet & American Life Project says that 26 percent of teens have texted while driving, and 43 percent have made calls on their cell phones while driving.

Watch the AT&T video below:

By Wes Raynal