UDOT

New PSA uses powerful dramatization to confront the life-or-death consequences of checking a phone while driving

SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 6, 2026) — The Utah Department of Transportation and Utah Department of Public Safety’s Zero Fatalities program will debut a provocative new local Super Bowl ad this weekend with a blunt message for drivers: checking your phone while driving can kill.

The commercial portrays a father just prior to the moment of impact narrating the life-altering consequences his family will face because of his choice to check a text and look away from the road. It ends with a bold message: “Your choices have consequences.”

The ad was created to confront drivers with the real-world impact of a split-second decision: checking a text message, opening an app or glancing at a notification while behind the wheel.

“This ad is a wake up call,” UDOT Public Relations Director John Gleason said. “We want everyone to see the very real consequences of our choices behind the wheel. For many drivers, checking a phone is automatic, and this ad shows how quickly that impulse can turn into tragedy.”

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 otherwise not paying full attention to the road.

For nearly 20 years, Zero Fatalities has conducted public opinion and safety culture research to assess attitudes and measure the frequency of dangerous behaviors on the road. In all of these studies, Utahns show that they want safety, and they perceive themselves as safe drivers, yet nearly 50% admit to engaging in the very unsafe behaviors they know are causing crashes and fatalities. 

Officials say the goal of the campaign is not to scare people for the sake of shock, but to change behavior.

“This is a dramatization using actors, but the scenario happens far too often on our roads,” Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Cameron Roden said. “Every driver has the power to prevent a tragedy like this. The message is simple: put the phone down and focus on driving.”

The Super Bowl was chosen as the debut platform because it reaches families watching together and provides an opportunity for conversations about safe driving. It will also appear through the weeks of the Winter Olympics. 

Viewers can watch the ad and learn more about distracted driving prevention at zerofatalities.com.