Teens learn the real distractions of texting while driving

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Students at West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High School got a real taste of what it is like to text while driving. It wasn't on the open road, though. It was in the safety of their school.

Students were able to get behind the wheel of a texting while driving simulator Tuesday. It was part of a program sponsored by AT&T featuring state leaders, to stop drivers, especially young ones, from texting behind the wheel.

"Young students who are now learning to drive, they're the ones who have grown up around cell phones," Indiana's Attorney General, Greg Zoeller, said. "They're also three times more likely to crash, and get injuries."

West Lafayette is one of five places in Indiana the program is stopping. Indiana has stepped up its awareness of texting while driving since it became illegal a year ago.

"I actually never knew texting and driving was illegal," West Lafayette Studen, Sophia Shinn said.

Zoeller said Indiana State Police have cited 432 people for texting while driving in the past year. It comes with a $500 fine. Students at the program said they now know, when the car goes on, the phone goes down.

"It's not just the long arm of government saying how you should protect yourself," Zoeller said. "This really presents a danger to everyone in the driving public."

"I'm definitely not going to do it," Shinn said. "My parents are really strict and if I ever get in a wreck I'll have to pay for it."