WHS wins $5K

Texting and driving is dangerous, and against the law, but people still do it. Students at Whitewater High wanted to get the message out to their peers about the dangers of texting while driving, so they signed up to participate in the “Don’t Text and Drive” campaign sponsored by Montlick & Associates and Fox 5 Atlanta’s High 5 Sports.

Their goal was to save lives by having everyone at the school sign the Safe Driver Pledge, from the Safe America Foundation, promising not to drive distracted. An added bonus was a $5,000 donation from Montlick & Associates to the high school with the most signed pledges by the end of the campaign period; Whitewater High is the 2015 winner.

Melinda Jeffress with Montlick & Associates, along with “Good Day Atlanta” features reporter Paul Milliken, officially presented the $5,000 award during an assembly at the school Dec. 8. Students who helped lead the effort were on hand to receive the prize, they include Brooklyn Doggett, Abby Smithwick, Savannah Hulings, and Carson Lamberth.

Teens who took the Safe Driver Pledge from the Safe America Foundation not only promised to not text and drive, but also to avoid other dangerous behaviors such as not wearing a seatbelt, speeding, and driving under the influence.

People who text and drive are 23 more times likely to have a car crash, according to a study on driver distractions conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Texting while operating a vehicle is prohibited in Georgia. That means no reading, typing or sending text messages. Drivers are not permitted to touch the keypad or look at the text screen. The law applies to all drivers, regardless of age, driving on public roads and highways, even those stopped at a red light, or waiting in a turn lane.