Last year, 140 teenage drivers were killed on North Carolina highways.

Starting Dec. 1, it will be against the law to text while driving, punishable by up to $100 fine.

Secretary Reuben F. Young of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety Thursday urged students at Enloe High School to drive safely as the department demonstrated the dangers of texting while driving as part of Operation Drive to Live 2009.

The new campaign is a safety initiative sponsored by the N.C. State Highway Patrol to reduce teenage traffic fatalities and collisions.

"During this program students participate and observe the dangers of texting while driving and see first hand about safe and responsible driving," Young said. "We intend to prevent as many of these senseless tragedies and turn the statistics around."

Many collisions involving teenage drivers occur during their commute to and from high school. Since Jan 1, 2005, just over 600 teenagers have lost their lives on the highways and public vehicular areas of North Carolina.

"The Highway Patrol is committed to saving teenage lives on our highways," said Col Randy Glover, commander of the Highway Patrol. "This program provides students with a realistic view of the dangers of texting while driving."

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol created the program to educate teenage drivers of the dangers of texting while driving. Troopers arrange a traffic cone course and ride with students on a golf cart as they navigate the course while attempting to send text messages on their cell phones. Students experience hands-on the consequences of being distracted while driving.

The use of cell phones and texting creates distractions for all drivers especially those that are inexperienced drivers. A teen can create and send a text message in 10 to 15 seconds. Driving 60 miles per hour covers more than 80 feet per second, one text could equal a tenth of a mile that a driver is not paying attention to their driving.

 

Motorists may report dangerous driving to the Highway Patrol by dialing *HP on their cellular phones from anywhere in the state.