LYNN — Essex District
Attorney Jonathan Blodgett talked tough to Classical High School
students Tuesday about texting and driving, warning them: “One bad
decision to text and drive can cost you your entire future and ruin
your life.”
He showed more than 500 students who packed Classical’s auditorium a
10-minute-long video documentary featuring people who lost friends
or loved ones in accidents involving teenage drivers texting.
AT&T helped produce the documentary and the final seconds of the
video cited statistics claiming teens texting while driving are 23
times more likely to get in an accident.
“It’s about making good decisions,” Blodgett reminded his audience.
The video impressed Classical senior Malcolm Leng-King, who, at
Blodgett’s request, lined up with fellow student government leaders
in front of a poster board mounted on an easel to sign an
anti-texting pledge.
Leng-King said he has driven around with friends when one of them
was driving and texting.
“I’ve seen people really distracted. It’s an eye-opener; a life
lesson,” Leng-King said.
City officials recognized the dangers of teens texting behind the
wheel in 2007 when the City Council voted to ban texting and talking
on cell phones by drivers younger than 18. The prohibition carries a
$200 initial fine.
Police Lt. Christopher Kelly did not have detailed statistics on
fines handed out to young drivers since 2007 by police officers.
“There have been a few warnings,” he said.
Classical Principal Gene Constantino told the students texting and
driving is also an adult problem. He admitted to texting his
children without thinking that they might be driving when they
receive his message.
“I’ve been that parent texting my kid wondering where they are,” he
said.
Classical is one of 12 Massachusetts high schools where AT&T
representatives have sponsored anti-texting talks with students and
showed “The Last Text,” with its sobering message about the risks
drivers take when they pull their eyes off the road for even a few
seconds.
Classical senior Nichelle Cox
said her mother warns her about driving and texting or talking on
her cellular phone unless she is parked somewhere safe. She said her
friends’ parents deliver a similar message.
“I know a lot of kids who take it seriously,” she said.
Blodgett warned the students that police officers arriving at the
scene of a traffic accident confiscate cell phones to determine if a
driver was texting or talking on the phone when the accident
occurred.
“Often that is the only tool needed to secure a criminal
conviction,” he said.
School officials, state Rep. Donald Wong and AT&T Vice President
David Mancuso are taking initial steps to hold anti-texting lectures
at Lynn high schools and Saugus High School.
“We understand there is a need,” Mancuso said.
To view this video, please
click on the address below.
http://www.schooltube.com/video/4386d84344d2a7345c5e/ATT-The-Last-Text-Documentary