Tappan Zee High School senior Isabelle Howard tried to read the one-word text message.
By the time she read the word "yeah," Howard drove into a truck. She knows she is fortunate that it was not real.
Howard was taking her turn on a simulator that demonstrates the dangers of distracted driving Friday at Tappan Zee as part of the "It Can Wait" anti-texting while driving program presented by AT&T, State Senator David Carlucci, the Orangetown Police and Tappan Zee faculty.
"It was pretty frightening, but definitely pretty accurate," Howard said. "Almost immediately, I got into a head-on collision with a truck. I lost the game immediately. I was surprised it happened that fast.
"I think no one realizes how dangerous it is until they have an experience. So if they are in a game driving while texting, they will realize how dangerous it is."
Among the statistics presented:
- Drivers who are text messaging are 23 percent more likely to get in an accident
- There are more than 100,000 crashes each year involving drivers who are text messaging.
- 77 percent of teens report they have seen their parents text and drive.
"I think it’s really important that we teach them the dangers of texting and driving" Maher said. "A recent statistic said Memorial Day to Labor Day is the 100 deadliest days for teens on the road, so I want to make sure they are safe and I really appreciate AT&T, Senator Carlucci and the Orangetown Police Department coming out to make a difference in the community and with our teens.
That was much of the point of presentations like Friday's. AT&T started "It Can Wait" to help cut back on distracted driving due to electronic devices. In addition to the simulator, students attended an assembly that included the documentary "The Last Text," which tells the story of people crippled or killed in automobile accidents while texting.
"The video they show today is powerful in showing how dangerous this is," Carlucci said. "A second (with your eyes) off the road can change your life."
"AT&T cares about kids," said Ed Berstraesser of AT&T. "We don't view them strictly as consumers. We feel we are corporate citizens who have a responsibility to the kids and the parents who find themselves texting and driving. It's an important national campaign, especially now as we embark on the 100 deadliest days when car accidents skyrocket among teens."
Maher coordinated a panel discussion with Howard, Bergstraesser, Carlucci and Orangetown Police Sgt. Jim Sullivan.
Sullivan gave examples of local accidents caused by distracted driving and explained one reason why the topic is so important.
"Bad stuff can happen. It can happen to you," Sullivan said. "I’ve been there where it’s happened with work and it’s not pretty. If you have ever been to the funeral of a high school person, it’s one of the saddest things. It ruins families it ruins friends. It ruins teachers."
Carlucci spoke of recent changes in New York State law which have made driving while using electronic devices a primary offense last year, allowing police officers to pull them over without the driver committing another offense, and increasing fines this year.
"Distracted driving, texting while driving, reading emails while driving. It's really been an epidemic," Carlucci said. "We've seen it's almost as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.
"This is something we’ve got to take zero tolerance. More importantly than that, the stick part is important in terms of putting fines in place, but I think what AT&T is doing, what the school district is doing today is to be commended because it’s about education. People don’t realize how dangerous this is."
For more information, go to www.itcanwait.com. The online texting and driving simulator is free and available at www.itcanwaitsimulator.org.
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