Teens learn the danger of texting and driving

“LOL.” “Yeah.” “Where u at?”
    These seemingly simple text messages – sent in a split second – changed the lives of the people who sent them while driving a car.
    A recent survey conducted by AT&T uncovered that an astounding 43 percent of teenagers admit to sending a text while driving, and 75 percent say this is common among their friends. Other statistics: 100,000 crashes a year involve drivers who were texting; texting drivers are 23 times more likely to be in an accident.    
    
To strengthen the message of the dangers of texting while driving, AT&T created a 10-minute documentary, “The Last Text,” that was shown at the Bayou Classic in New Orleans and to high school students on Nov. 26 at the Academy of the Sacred Heart. 
    The video highlights the experiences of a state trooper and several testimonials from people with a direct connection to texting and driving that changed their lives.
    “Is it worth losing your life over … that text message?” the state trooper asked.
  
 After watching the video and actually sitting in a simulated car complete with brake and accelerator pedals, a steering wheel and phone, Sacred Heart students learned texting and driving was not as effortless and pain-free as they thought.
    “The simulator was real scary,” junior Mary Catherine Toso said. “I thought I could do it (text and drive) after watching other people, but definitely not.”
    Toso has been driving for several months.
    “You might not think it’s serious at all,” Toso said. “You might think you would be OK looking down at your phone for a few seconds, but in those few seconds your life can be completely changed forever.”
    Tenth grader Helen Marsh, whose father Leo Marsh was able to secure the AT&T video and simulator for the school as regional director of AT&T Louisiana, said she has been tempted to text and drive but has resisted. The video reinforced her decision.
    “These videos are personal, because they are real families and real people so it gives you a different insight than just the textbook statistics of how dangerous this is,” Marsh said.
    Marsh said the police are trying to crack down on the practice. She knows several people who have been stopped by police while texting and driving.
    “One little short text message like, ‘where r you’ – in that short amount of time – it could have a lasting impact on your life; like you may never be able to move if you crash into a car that came out of a parking lot or a child running out (in the street) for a ball. That could be horrible.”
    The Academy of the Sacred Heart knows students benefitted from having the presentation at school. Students also took a pledge to not text and drive.
    “A lot of times, kids say, ‘I can do this. I’m smart. I can do two things at one time, take my eyes off the road and text,” said Liz Manthey, director of public relations and marketing for the school.  “We’re hoping to get the message out that you really can’t do this. Have somebody else do it or wait until you get where you are going.”
    Leo Marsh said the presentation is returning to corporate headquarters in Dallas but will resume road  trips in 2013. Call him at 528-2211 to arrange a  presentation.
    Individuals can take the pledge or see celebrities take the pledge to not text and drive, view the documentary and get tips and tools at www.itcan wait.com. Join the Twitter conversation at #ItCanWait.