November 11, 2016 at 4:28 p.m.
'It only takes one minute': High school students warned about the dangers of texting and driving
'It only takes one minute': High school students warned about the dangers of texting and driving
By Kayla Thomason-
That was the message Rhinelander High School students heard Tuesday as part of AT&T's "It Can Wait" campaign.
This was the 100th "It Can Wait" event and the first one held at RHS.
Students watched the film "The Last Text," which features people talking about loved ones who died in accidents caused by drivers looking at or responding to text messages.
One woman featured in the film said she carries immense guilt every day because it was her text that her sister was reading when she was killed.
Another person featured in the film suffered serious injures as the result of a car accident that occurred because was texting on his way to the movies.
"I thought it was very touching, watching the video and realizing that it could happen to any of our students," said Matthew Knott, social studies teacher at RHS. "Like (RHS principal) Mr. (David) Ditzler said, as you walk through the halls you kind of view the kids as your own."
Knott is well aware of how social people are and the apparent need to respond to messages right away.
"We're all about responding right away with text messages but it's really not worth it," he said.
The topic hit close to home for some of those in the audience. Knott overheard a student mention that his cousin had died from texting and driving.
"I think they kind of realize it and a lot of kids that I talked to also say that their parents - if they find out they were texting and driving or anything like that - their car is gone. So I think people are getting awareness of it," he said.
Knott and RHS senior Matt Reinthaler tried out the distracted driving simulator. After a practice run, they had to had to operate their simulated vehicle while looking up movie information from the Rouman Cinema on their phones.
Both participants swerved and ran stop signs while traveling through a simulated suburban-like setting at a lower speed.
"(The simulation) was very difficult but it was also really real life because cars are breaking, kind of turning, if something runs out in the road and the car ahead of you stops or if they are turning. You just never know what to expect so it's always important to have your eyes on the road," Knott said.
He was unaware that he had swerved and run the stop sign while trying the simulator, he said.
"I was kind of like 'I've got to type this in and spell it right so that I actually get to the Rouman Cinema and by the time I looked back up there was a stop sign," he said.
Knott hopes the students take the lessons they were trying to teach to them to heart.
"I just hope that they realize it can happen to them because I think at a young age we all are thinking 'oh, this is just somebody else, this isn't going to happen to me,'" he said. "This can happen, it takes one minute. "
The audience was asked if they have texted or looked something up on their phone while driving. A fraction of the crowd raised their hands.
Ditzler was surprised by the number of students who raised their hands as he thought there would be more.
Students were also encouraged to speak up when they are a passenger in a vehicle and the driver is using a phone.
Brittany Curby, a junior at RHS, found the presentation eye-opening.
"It was informational and a good thing to learn," she said, adding that she will speak up if she is a passenger in a vehicle and the driver is using their phone.
"It's hard, personally I've done it, because you're swerving, your attention isn't fully on the road and there's so many distractions otherwise," Curby said.
She hopes others will take the message to heart.
"Don't text and drive," she said.
In December, the ban on texting while driving in Wisconsin will have existed for six years.
Research from AT&T shows that seven in 10 people use their phones while driving. Texting and emailing is most prevalent, while four in 10 drivers use social media - 25 percent are using Facebook, almost three in 10 are browsing the internet, one in 7 are on Twitter, and one in 10 are video chatting.
"If you text while driving, your hands are not on the steering wheel, your eyes are not on the road, and your attention is not on the traffic and road conditions around you," said Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Stephen Fitzgerald in a press release. "Texting while driving will, without a doubt, increase your risk of causing a crash or failing to avoid one. You are putting yourself, your passengers, and everyone else on the road in grave danger."
During the presentation it was said that if someone is driving 55 mph and glances at their phone for five seconds they have covered the distance of a football field. A lot can happen in that distance, and the drivers' eyes aren't on the road.
"I thought it was a great little refresher on something that's really important and takes a lot of lives a year, so it's important that our kids know it can happen to them and ways to help prevent it," said Knott.
It Can Wait started in 2010 and events have been held in 98 Wisconsin cities, reaching nearly 38,500 high school students.
Students are encouraged not to use their phones while driving, and to take the pledge to not text and drive.
Across the country 8 million people have taken the pledge.
"I am grateful to AT&T and AAA Wisconsin for making this event possible," Ditzler said. "It is nice that they sought me out to make me aware that this presentation was possible."
The guests were Robyn Gruner from AT&T Wisconsin; Mark Gottlieb, Secretary of Wisconsin DOT; Sgt. Bryan Wrycha of the Wisconsin State Patrol and Nick Jarmusz of AAA Wisconsin.
To take the pledge visit www.ItCanWait.com.
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla@ rivernewsonline.com.
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