Story Published:
Mar 19, 2008 at 3:43 PM CST
Story Updated:
Mar 19, 2008 at 6:58 PM CST
Teen driving is something that scares many parents. Driving is the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States.
Some Minonk high school students are trying to influence their peers to stay focused.
In a dark gymnasium at Fieldcrest High School students focus on a flashing, red police light. If that doesn't get the students attention in the assembly, maybe the statistics will.
One teenager dies every four seconds in a car crash.
This is all part of an assembly on distracted driving.
Project Director Marilyn Baggett said, "Eating or drinking while driving not focusing on the road. Text messaging, answering the cell phone."
Junior Rozana Catarinicchia said, "We thought it would be good for our school because we have had so many deaths occur. They were in our classes."
There are 360 white Styrofoam cups on a table that represent the number of people who die every year in Illinois because of crashes. These seven colored cups in front shows the number of Fieldcrest students who have died since 1992.
"It impacted our school tremendously. It's still hard after year."
Just about a year ago, three Fieldcrest students were killed in a car crash...Curtis Turner, Will Salz and Eric Moore. The assembly used their example to hit their point home.
"We hope they realize with all the deaths that happened in our school. They have to realize that they can't mess around anymore and that this is real life. It's not a joke. We just want them to know its real."
And the reality is still with many of the students and parents who attended the emotional assembly.
This assembly was part of Operation Teen Safety Driving grant funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation and All State.