SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T capped-off the first week of its It Can Wait Drive for Pledges, which was set in motion nationally on September 19, with an event at AT&T Park Thursday night highlighting the San Francisco Giants' efforts to combat texting while driving.  Over the past two years, the Giants have been a valuable partner in AT&Ts campaign to end this dangerous, yet widespread practice. 

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As part of the collaborative effort, AT&T and the Giants launched several in-stadium initiatives to drive home the critical message that no text message is worth a person's life.  Those initiatives included the "Why I Pledge" sweepstakes at AT&T Park.  During Giants games over the past month, when fans took the pledge to never text and drive, they were entered to win unique experiences with the San Francisco Giants, courtesy of AT&T, including Club Level tickets to a 2013 Giants game and the chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the ballgame.

The It Can Wait initiative and "Why I Pledge" sweepstakes were promoted in the AT&T Digital Lounge during Giants games, on videoboard and via Chatter messages during home games throughout the entry period, and on signage throughout AT&T Park.

Media attending Thursday night's It Can Wait event were also given advance versions of 'cheer cards,' which will be handed out to fans in attendance to Friday night's Giants game, urging them to arrive home safe and not to text while driving.

"The San Francisco Giants are committed to making sure our fans - whether they are driving, walking or taking public transportation - are safe not only in their travels to and from the ballpark but also throughout their daily lives. There is no text message that's worth risking a life.   That's why we encourage all our fans to embrace the simple rule for texting while driving: it can wait," said Larry Baer, Giants president and chief executive officer.

The It Can Wait event at AT&T Park is taking place in association with last week's Drive 4 Pledges Day. Aspiring to create a social stigma around the dangerous habit of texting while driving, the Drive 4 Pledges focuses on getting individuals to accept personal responsibility to never text while driving, while encouraging others in their community to do the same. Throughout California, cities have hosted rallies and community events, including pledge drives at Southwestern College, Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA, and thirteen high schools across the state. Caltrans also posted "Texting Ticket $160+, Not Worth It" on more than 700 roadside message boards, strategically located on the State Highway system.   

The pledge drive lasts through the month of October and California cities are challenged to compete in the number of pledges to never text while driving.  

"Texting while driving is dangerous and deadly, and our work with the Giants is about getting fans to commit not to text and drive," said Terry Stenzel, AT&T vice president and general manager for Northern California and Northern Nevada.  "California has more drivers and more road than any state in the nation – the risks from texting while driving are very real and it's up to each of us to live the pledge."

As part of the national campaign, It Can Wait advocates take action by changing their social profile photos and banner to It Can Wait graphics and sharing their personal pledge stories on social media using the hashtag #ItCanWait.  All materials such as social graphics and posters are available for download from ItCanWait.com.  Participants join AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile US, Inc., Verizon and more than 200 other organizations by sharing their commitment to end texting while driving.

"Distracted driving is extremely dangerous and we've seen an upward trend in texting while driving-related crashes. We recognize that it's on us to take action and do something about this issue," Chris Cochran, Assistant Director for the California Office of Traffic Safety said. "This is why we commend AT&T and the It Can Wait movement and encourage our communities to make the commitment to never text while driving."

The It Can Wait movement is making a difference. One-in-three people who've seen the texting while driving message say they've changed their driving habits¹, the It Can Wait campaign has inspired more than 2.5 million pledges never to text while driving since 2008, and the recently launched "From One Second To The Next" documentary has received more than 2 million views since Aug. 8, 2013.

To take the pledge and get more information, visit www.ItCanWait.com. Cities can request their city-specific text phrase by emailing itcanwait@att.com.

¹ AT&T Texting While Driving … It Can Wait Perceptions Study

**AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About It Can Wait®

The It Can Wait® campaign, created to end texting and driving, has evolved into a movement.  It currently is supported by the four largest U.S. wireless carriers, more than 200 other organizations and thousands of caring individuals. The movement has inspired more than 2.5 million pledges through ItCanWait.com, on Facebook, through text-to-pledge and tweet-to-pledge, and at events.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

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