Selfies can wait — even at prom time

We all know the signs: long gowns, tuxedos, fancy hairstyles — and selfies. Perhaps no other event in an American teenager’s life is as well-documented as The Prom.

From promposals to after-parties, every step prompts multiple selfies for posting, tweeting or otherwise sharing by history’s most tribal generation.

Each year, great effort goes into keeping teen drivers sober during prom season. That’s appropriate. Deaths and injuries caused by intoxicated drivers of any age are tragedies.

But alcohol isn’t the only risk faced by prom-goers. In fact, a greater temptation may come from their smartphone.

A 2013 study by the Centers for Disease Control found that in the previous 30 days, more than 8 percent of S.C. teens had driven after drinking, while more than 21 percent had ridden with someone who had been drinking. But nearly 46 percent had texted or e-mailed while driving.

AT&T’s research has found similar results. Some 43 percent of teens admitted to texting while driving, and 75 percent said it was “common” among their friends; 17 percent of divers admit to taking a selfie while driving.

We are pleased our mobile services make a positive difference in customers’ lives. But we want those services to be used wisely and safely, which means driving distraction-free.

No text, selfie, email or web search is worth a life. That’s the simple message behind our It Can Wait campaign.

S.C. policymakers have done their part. Our data indicate that the four states without a full ban have a 17 percent higher rate of texting while driving than South Carolina and the other 45 states with bans.

It only takes one second of distraction to change a life irrevocably. Proms should be times of joy and laughter, not of sorrow and tears. Selfies should be enjoyed, not regretted.

Keep your eyes on the road, not on your phone.

This story was originally published April 23, 2016 at 11:06 AM with the headline "Selfies can wait — even at prom time."