UDOT Super Bowl ad warns against distracted driving

SALT LAKE CITY — A new Super Bowl commercial from the Utah Department of Transportation is delivering a blunt warning to drivers across the state: Checking your phone behind the wheel can have deadly consequences.

The ad, created in partnership with the UDOT's Zero Fatalities program, tackles distracted driving head on. It portrays a father in the moments before a crash, narrating the life-altering impact of his decision to glance at a text message about his family.

The commercial ends with a bold message: "Your choices have consequences."

"It's a powerful ad that is meant to take you out of a moment before a crash happens," said UDOT spokesman John Gleason.

Officials said the goal of the campaign is to confront drivers with the real-world impact of a split-second decision — whether that's checking a notification, opening an app or responding to a text.

"It's a compulsion. An addiction," Gleason said. "It could be deadly by picking up your phone, checking a text, taking your eyes off the road."

Distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of serious crashes in Utah. According to Zero Fatalities data, hundreds of crashes each year involve drivers who were using a phone or not paying full attention.

For nearly two decades, Zero Fatalities has conducted public opinion and safety research across the state. While most Utahns say they value safety and consider themselves responsible drivers, nearly half admit to engaging in unsafe behaviors they know contribute to crashes and fatalities.

"We want people to understand that if you have that option, to make a different choice or decision, do it," Gleason said.

The commercial will debut during the Super Bowl and continue airing through the Winter Olympics. Officials hope the timing — when families are often watching together — will spark conversations about putting the phone down and focusing on the road.

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