Students from Monticello High School learned recently about the dangers of texting while driving and were urged to take the pledge to never text behind the wheel at http://www.ItCanWait.com.

Monticello High School teamed up with AT&T, AAA, the Wisconsin State Patrol, and State Rep. Sondy Pope as part of the It Can Wait® movement to remind students that text messages can – and should – wait until after driving.

"In today's age of instant communication, we know how tempting it is for our teens to text behind the wheel, even though they know it's dangerous and illegal," said Monticello High School Principal Mark Gustafson.  "That's why we are proud to join in this effort to raise awareness about the dangers and urge our students to take the pledge to never text and drive."

The assembly was part of a series of events being held at high schools across the state this school year by AT&T, AAA and the Wisconsin State Patrol to drive home the dangers of texting and driving and encourage students to take the pledge. 

Students learned about "#X" – a social tool introduced as part of the It Can Wait® campaign that is geared toward helping teens stop texting and driving.  The school was also presented with two permanent It Can Wait® parking lot signs that remind students to never text and drive.

"Our It Can Wait campaign has always targeted teens, as they are not only our newest and most inexperienced drivers, but also the most prevalent texters," said Scott T. VanderSanden, president of AT&T Wisconsin.  "#X is simple, quick to enter and easily shareable, and we hope it will act as a digital rallying cry for teens and others to help end this deadly epidemic." 

"#X" is a tool that teens can use to pause a text or social conversation before beginning to drive.  The symbol is a way for teens to quickly let their friends know that they are about to drive and won't be responding to texts or social media until they arrive safely at their destination. 

Students were given the chance to experience the dangers of texting while driving in a safe setting through AAA's distracted driving simulator.  They were also shown a powerful documentary produced by AT&T called "The Last Text" that shares real stories about lives ended by someone's decision to text and drive.

AT&T first launched the It Can Wait® campaign in 2009 to educate the public about the dangers of texting while driving and encourage consumers to take the pledge to not text and drive at http://www.ItCanWait.com.  The campaign has now turned into a national social movement, with support from organizations all across the country, including the Wisconsin State Patrol and AAA.  Since 2010, AT&T, AAA and the State Patrol have partnered together to hold events in 74 cities throughout Wisconsin, reaching over 30,800 high school students.

"Even though Wisconsin bans texting while driving, we know too many drivers are still engaging in the deadly practice behind the wheel," said State Rep. Sondy Pope, who voted in 2010 to make texting and driving illegal in Wisconsin.  "That's why efforts like the It Can Wait campaign are so important to raise awareness about the dangers and help change behaviors, especially among our young people."

The It Can Wait® movement is making a difference, inspiring over 6.5 million pledges to never text and drive.  One in three people who have seen the texting while driving message also say they've changed their driving habits. 

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently completed a groundbreaking naturalistic study of teen crashes, which revealed that teens who were texting prior to a crash had taken their eyes off the road for an average of 4.1 out of the last six seconds before impact.  A copy of AAA's sample driving agreement and other teen driving resources can be found at http://www.TeenDriving.AAA.com.

Sue Moen

Monticello High School teamed up with AT&T, AAA, the Wisconsin State Patrol and Rep. Sondy Pope to educate students on the dangers of texting while driving.  Pictured (L-R): Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper Matthew Ackley; student Dez Hanenberger; Rep. Sondy Pope; students Rachel Love and Callista Baebler; and Nick Jarmusz of AAA Wisconsin.

"The dangers of texting are greatest for teen drivers who cannot draw upon previous experience to manage unsafe situations," said Vicki Hanson, Regional President of AAA Wisconsin.  "We encourage parents to reinforce the It Can Wait campaign at home by implementing a parent-teen driving agreement."

Wisconsin's law, effective as of December 1, 2010, prohibits sending an e-mail or text message while driving and imposes a fine of up to $400.  As a primary enforcement law, officers may stop and ticket drivers solely for texting and driving.  Wisconsin is among 41 states and the District of Columbia that ban text messaging by all drivers.

For more information on the It Can Wait® campaign, please visit: ItCanWait.com.