BOONSBORO, MD- Meritus Health's Distracted Driving Campaign is already exceeding expectations, but it's asking more teens to pledge and pass on texting and driving.
9,000 pledges and counting to just say no to texting and driving.
"We're just getting our licenses and we think we are really big and we can do whatever we want, but when I see students texting and driving, it's really scary," says Teresa Colella, a senior at Oakdale High School.
High schools from Frederick to Franklin Counties are taking part in Meritus Health's campaign to educate teens about the dangers of distracted driving and how a single second can truly alter lives.
"We've all been touched by the loss of a young person in an automobile accident, and in some ways this will recall that sense of loss for these kids," says Joe Ross, president and CEO of Meritus Health.
In Washington County, law enforcement officials say while teens only make up roughly five-percent of drivers, they account for 20-percent of all crashes.
"They don't have the experience that the older drivers have, and so when something happens they haven't learned yet how to react to that, and I believe that's what contributes to their involvement in so many crashes," explains Lieutenant Tom Woodward with the Maryland State Police in Hagerstown.
Teens understand there's a simple solution.
"It's just risky and too many people die from accidents that you can avoid by just not texting while driving," says Rakel Wilson, a senior at Boonsboro High School.
9,000 pledges and counting to just say no to texting and driving.
"We're just getting our licenses and we think we are really big and we can do whatever we want, but when I see students texting and driving, it's really scary," says Teresa Colella, a senior at Oakdale High School.
High schools from Frederick to Franklin Counties are taking part in Meritus Health's campaign to educate teens about the dangers of distracted driving and how a single second can truly alter lives.
"We've all been touched by the loss of a young person in an automobile accident, and in some ways this will recall that sense of loss for these kids," says Joe Ross, president and CEO of Meritus Health.
In Washington County, law enforcement officials say while teens only make up roughly five-percent of drivers, they account for 20-percent of all crashes.
"They don't have the experience that the older drivers have, and so when something happens they haven't learned yet how to react to that, and I believe that's what contributes to their involvement in so many crashes," explains Lieutenant Tom Woodward with the Maryland State Police in Hagerstown.
Teens understand there's a simple solution.
"It's just risky and too many people die from accidents that you can avoid by just not texting while driving," says Rakel Wilson, a senior at Boonsboro High School.
