In the United States, over 5,870 people died and about 515,000 people were injured in 2009 due to accidents from distracted drivers who text. Many students overlook the graveness of this subject. In an effort to raise awareness of the importance of this issue, Creekview’s Student Leadership Team organized a campaign to get the school on board with the new texting and driving law, recently placed on July 1st of this year and to make the students aware of the dangers from texting and driving.
The Student Leadership team invited Greg and Amy Heil to speak on behalf of their daughter, Victoria Heil, who tragically died texting and driving. Victoria was a senior at Woodstock High School, who was killed in an accident in 2008 after her jeep overturned on I-575. In addition, the Canton’s Sherriff’s Department was also present to discuss the consequences of texting and driving.
With the new texting and driving law enacted July 1, 2010, if any person at any age is caught texting while driving, they are subject to a $150 fine and one point off their driver’s license. Shocked faces filled the gymnasium as the students absorbed the severity and possible consequences of texting and driving.
During the lunch periods, the Student Leadership Team encouraged students to pledge their promise to not text and drive and keep the roads safe. After stamping their pledges with blue ink, Morgan M. (12), Ashton C. (12), and Jacqueline A. (12) proudly proclaimed saying, “We’ll form a pact because of the BFF pledge. The stickers we got will serve as a reminder as we see it on our windshield.” On this momentous day, Creekview students changed their lives and maybe someone else’s forever.
By: Maida Ahmad and Beatrice Torralba
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