RCHS students receive a distracted driving lesson

Roane County High School DECA students recently took a stand against distracted driving.

Roane County High School students, from left, Jessica Karb, Taylor Lindsay and Brittney Hatton organized a distracted driving project for their school.

The program, headed by Brittney Hatton, Jessica Karb and Taylor Lindsey, primarily focused on texting.

Students were given the opportunity to drive a golf cart through an obstacle course that was similar to a road course.

The course contained pedestrian crossings, stop signs, speed changing signs and sharp curves.

While students drove through the course, they were required to text the message, “I do not think texting and driving is distracting.”

Students participating and watching the exercise observed many other distractions while the driver was texting the message.

Students were required to completely finish the text, obey the rules of the road and not hit any cones to pass the course.

Not one student participating was able to successfully make it through the course.

Students said the exercise helped them realize how dangerous it really is to text and drive, and they signed a petition vowing to refrain from texting and driving.

DECA is an association of marketing students.