AT&T Ohio sponsored an assembly at Calvert Catholic High School Thursday to inform teenagers that texting and driving do not mix.
Students at Calvert were given a 45-minute presentation on the dangers of texting while driving.
State Rep. Rex Damschroder, R-Fremont, spoke about a 16-year-old girl who was texting and driving and was involved in an accident that killed a motorcyclist.
Three senior girls from Sandusky County testified in Columbus in support of the ban.
"You do not have to wait till you're old to be involved, this is your life," Damschroder said.
In light of AT&T's "It Can Wait" campaign, students were shown a 10-minute documentary called "The Last Text," which featured true stories of people whose lives have been changed by the decision to text while driving.
To Sgt. Angel Burgos of the State Highway Patrol, this video hits home.
"I've seen a lot of things and part of the highway patrol is to make death notifications and it is never easy," Burgos said.
"Avoid being distracted and take your time and pay attention. Pull off to the side of the road if it is an emergency," he said.
Students also learned about AT&T's campaign and how to go online at www.itcanwait.com to pledge not to text and drive.
"Our goal is to save lives," said Tom Pelto, president of AT&T Ohio.
"With the support of State Rep. Damschroder and the Ohio State Highway Patrol we're challenging every driver in Ohio to take the pledge to never text and drive again," he said.
"Technology is a huge part of our lives," Dominic Helmstetter, principal of Calvert Catholic Schools, said. "Our intention is to provide safety and awareness."
The event kicked off a week of activities sponsored by Students Against Destructive Decisions.
Ohio issued the statewide texting-while-driving ban on teens Aug. 31. The ban, one of the strictest in the nation, is currently in a six-month warning period. In that time, law enforcement will be providing education.
If drivers 18 years of age or older are caught sending or reading a text message while driving, they will face a $150 fine.
For those 17 or younger, it will be illegal to use any handheld device, meaning no texting, emailing, talking, surfing, changing songs on an iPod or looking up directions on a GPS. The punishment is to be a $150 find and a 60-day license suspension.
"This issue has gotten out of hand and once the ban is in full effect there will be strict enforcement," Burgos said.
"All we want to do is keep you alive. If you do not pay attention to your driving you won't be here next year," Damschroder said.
Also in attendance were Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz and Tiffin Police Chief Fredrick Stevens.
Be aware of your surroundings and just don't do it, Stevens said.
