Viewfinder: Lassiter's No Texting Campaign

The Lassiter High School PTSA involved students in a 'No Texting Campaign' last week to encourage them to keep their cellphones out of their hands, decrease distraction, and focus on driving while behind the wheel of a car.

Campaign activities included:

• Students were asked to sign a pledge stating they wouldn’t text while driving.  
• AllState Insurance Company visited and collected thumbprints of students who committed to no texting while driving. Students received a ‘reminder’ band for their thumb.  
• Safe America came to lunch on Wednesday with their simulators. Students drove a course without a cellphone in their hand and then tried it again while texting; the second outcome proved the dangers of driving while texting.
• Advisement classes with 100 percent participation in the 'No Texting' pledge were entered into a drawing. The cow showed up with chicken biscuits for the winners.  

Winning classes were:

Ms. Allen
Mr. Seaman
Ms. Engle
Ms. Shortt

reminds families of the following 'texting and driving' statistics:

• About 6,000 deaths and a half a million injuries are caused by distracted drivers every year.
• While teenagers are texting, they spend about 10 percent of the time outside the driving lane they’re supposed to be in.
• Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver’s reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old.
• Answering a text takes away your attention for about five seconds. That is enough time to travel the length of a football field.