For more information, contact: Audrey Chang 202.295.8779 audrey.chang@harbourgrp.com Daniel Langan 717.571.1743 dan.langan@att.

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MARYLAND OFFICIALS, AT&T REMIND DRIVERS IT CAN WAIT State leaders ask drivers to pledge not to text and drive
ANNAPOLIS, MD (SEPTEMBER 16, 2013) Calling texting while driving a dangerous distraction on Marylands and the nations roadways, top law enforcement officials and other Maryland leaders today joined AT&T in reminding all drivers to take the pledge not to text and drive. The effort is part of the nationwide It Can Wait movement. The Maryland State Police support the It Can Wait Initiative and join with law enforcement nationwide in recognizing its importance, said Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent, Maryland State Police. Texting while driving has become a dangerous distraction to motorists on our roads. We are encouraging drivers to wait until they get to their destinations before picking up their phones to call or text. By waiting to text, they may save their life, as well as a life of another. Baltimore City Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts added: "Texting and driving is dangerous and illegal. Take the pledge today not to put others at risk and avoid a costly ticket. No text is worth the risk; it can wait!" Again this year, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) joined forces with AT&T to spread the message that texting while driving can have deadly consequences. Visitors to the 24 MVA branch offices will be able to learn more about how they can pledge not to text through special messages broadcast on video monitors in the MVA offices. With 56 billion miles traveled each year on Maryland roadways, ensuring the safety of the motoring public is at the forefront of our mission, said Transportation Secretary James T. Smith, Jr. That is why we wholeheartedly support this life-saving initiative as it complements our ongoing efforts to build, operate and maintain a safe transportation network. Were excited to join with Marylands leaders to remind all drivers that texting while driving is a deadly combination, said J. Michael Schweder, president, AT&T Mid Atlantic. Were driving for

pledges on September 19, and were working year round to drive home the message that texting can wait. Drive 4 Pledges Day Schweder said that AT&T has been joined by three other national wireless service providers in spearheading the It Can Wait campaign to urge people to share their commitment to never text and drive with others on Drive 4 Pledges Day, September 19. Individuals can sign up at ItCanWait.com to get resources that will help them share their commitment on social media and personalize the movement on the streets of their communities on key activation days. Aspiring to create a social stigma around this dangerous habit of texting while driving, Drive 4 Pledges Day will focus on getting individuals involved in taking the pledge to never text and drive, while encouraging others in their community to do the same. On Drive 4 Pledges Day, supporters of the movement will be called upon to help spread the word to their families, friends and communities. Advocates will be encouraged to do things such as change their social profile photos and banner to It Can Wait graphics, and share their personal pledge stories using the hashtag #ItCanWait. Offline activations will include hosting pledge drives and distributing posters in their schools, workplaces and neighborhoods. All materials such as social graphics and posters will be available for download from www.ItCanWait.com. Individuals joining in Drive 4 Pledges Day will be part of a variety of activations and awareness campaigns coast-to-coast, including: The Technology Council of Maryland, the Prince Georges County Chamber and other organizations, have encouraged their members and followers to join the movement. Nearly 2,000 Drive 4 Pledges activities will be held in communities across the nation, including more than 1,500 at high schools. Additionally, 200+ proclamations will be issued. #ItCanWait tweets and Instagram posts will stream on ItCanWait.com. A National Organizations for Youth Safety Teen Distracted Driving Prevention Summit in Washington D.C. will be held Sept. 18-20, including a rally on Sept. 19 with more than 75 teens, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez, NTSB Member Christopher Hart and Aly Raisman, The Century Council Ambassador. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon will run co-branded advertising on national TV programming, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and display the message in their tens of thousands of stores nationwide. GE Healthcare will provide its US Service vehicle fleets with It Can Wait window clings to remind its employees to be safe while on the roads. 2

Goodyear blimps will display the message It Can Wait in the skies over Miami and Los Angeles. The It Can Wait message will be promoted across key sporting events at games and via social media. Several Major League Baseball teams will drum up support for It Can Wait by reaching out to fans during games urging them to take the pledge. Participating clubs include Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals. NFL players will tweet their support of Drive 4 Pledges Day with their friends and fans, and teams such as the Carolina Panthers will rally around the cause as well. NHL and NBA teams like the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls and the San Antonio Spurs will also be supporting the cause.

Third party organizations will support the day through various activations. The Consumer Electronics Association will hold an employee and membership pledge drive and distribute messaging through social media. The National Auto Body Council will distribute messaging through social media, enewsletters, and press releases. Member collision shops will hold mini pledge drives in local communities. Net Impact, a nonprofit that empowers a new generation of leaders to work for a sustainable future, will promote the pledge as a "small step" in their Small Steps, Big Wins Campus Challenge program at colleges around the world.

Youth organizations like the Girl Scouts will participate. Girl Scouts of the USA will activate its 112 councils nationwide to support It Can Wait through social media and member engagement. "Texting while driving claims too many lives, and raising awareness of this completely

preventable tragedy is key to saving them, said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx. Weve seen success before through our seatbelts and our drunk driving campaigns, and I both applaud the It Can Wait campaign for its efforts to raise awareness and encourage everyone to make a commitment on Drive 4 Pledges Day to drive focused and distraction-free." In fact, a ConnectSafely.org1 survey found that individuals who speak up can have a profound impact, particularly on teens. 78% of teen drivers say theyre likely not to text and drive if friends tell them it's wrong or stupid. 90% say theyd stop if a friend in the car asked them to. 93% would stop if a parent in the car asked them to. 44% say that they would be thankful if a passenger complained about their texting while driving. The It Can Wait movement is making a difference. One-in-three people whove seen the texting while driving message say theyve changed their driving habits2, the campaign has inspired more than 2.5 million pledges never to text and drive and the recently launched "From One Second To The Next" documentary has received more than 2 million views since Aug. 8. To take the pledge and get more information, visit www.ItCanWait.com.

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ConnectSafely.org survey sponsored by AT&T AT&T Texting While Driving It Can Wait Perceptions Study