I want to help bring awareness to the dangers of distracted driving.

I lost my Nana in a tragic car crash two years ago because someone was reading a text while driving. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else, so I would like to remind people that these are preventable actions.

Over the next few months our Rock Solid Youth Group will be making posters on the dangers of distracted driving to share in our schools and community; we’ll write a song to share this message, too.

In addition, we’ll be asking our local sheriff’s  office to help support us in getting the message out.

Did you know it is illegal to use a cell phone while driving in Washington state that is not considered a hands-free device?

Unfortunately, I see many people everyday passing my school using a cellphone, while driving, with it held up to their ear, and I’ve even seen people texting and driving down Spring Street.

Did you know, “When you text and drive you are 23 times more likely to crash?”

Did you know, “77 percent of young adults are very or somewhat confident that they can safely text while driving?” Did you know, “48 percent of kids (12-17) have been in a car while the driver was texting?” (www.textinganddrivingsafety.com)

Please join us in helping to prevent distracted driving in our community. Please put your cell phones away when you get in your car and speak up if the driver of your car uses their cell phone (non hands-free device) or starts to text while driving. You just might save a life.

Zach Fincher, Rock Solid Youth Group