Pledge Not to Text & Drive
Tonight at HHS
Texting and driving can be deadly, not only for the offenders and their passengers, but for everyone else on the road, too, even pedestrians. The Huntington High School Parent-Teacher-Student Assn. is encouraging the school community to attend a special presentation tonight at 7 p.m. and pledge not to text and drive.
A wrecked car has been parked on the plaza outside the Huntington High School gym for several days. It was driven by someone who was texting while driving. It serves as a stark reminder of what can happen when a person doesn’t wait until they have stopped driving to send a text message to someone.
“Texting and driving has surpassed drinking and driving as the leading cause of death and accidents among teens,” said Karen Torres of the Texting Awareness Foundation. “This is not just a teen problem. Adults are just as guilty.”
“This is a very big night for all of us in the Huntington community,” said Alice Marie Rorke, president of the Huntington High School PTSA. “Parents as well as their teens are being asked to ‘take the pledge’ to not text and drive as part of our It Can Wait campaign against distracted driving.”
“In this day and age, it is critical that all drivers understand the imminent dangers associated with texting while behind the wheel,” Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “We are grateful for the PTSA’s efforts in helping to provide one means of spreading this message in a proactive manner to our young people. Such efforts can help to prevent senseless tragedy.”
Huntington’s PTSA and the Texting Awareness Foundation are collaborating on the special evening. The entire school community is invited to attend what is billed as an “informative and shocking presentation on the dangers of texting while driving.” As the death toll has mounted, the phenomenon has reached epidemic proportions.
“This is all part of a week-long campaign that will feature videos, a student/parent pledge to not text and drive, daily giveaways for students and tonight’s attendees, such as texting rings, t-shirts and decals, information sessions and much more,” Mrs. Rorke said.
Laura Mills, the PTSA’s vice president is chairing the anti-texting and driving campaign. “The PTSA recognized that this was an important program for our students,” she said. “It started as a simple presentation and has grown into a wonderful community event. We have sponsorships from many local businesses that are eager to be a part the ‘It Can Wait’ message. Their generosity has enabled us to create a week of awareness on the dangers of distracted driving.”
“Most of us are attached to our phones or some type of technology that keeps us all connected,” Mrs. Rorke said. “This is the new reality. We can’t take the matter lightly. Lives are being lost. It is unacceptable. We must be diligent and responsible. It only takes a split second of taking your eyes off the road that can change someone’s life forever. Is that text worth a life? I think it can wait.”
The Huntington PTSA hopes its message against texting and driving extends beyond students and staff and reaches the general community as well. “There are too many distracted drivers on the road and taking the pledge to be responsible and not text while driving can possibly save a life,” Mrs. Rorke said.
Tuesday night’s presentation will feature Ms. Torres, who on March 17, 2006 received a phone call that changed her life forever. Her father, Patrick Mapleson was struck and killed by a distracted driver while working along a highway. The tragedy began her journey as a safety advocate, speaker, and educator for families and organizations across Long Island.
“As parents, our children are in our driving school for the first 16 years of their lives,” Ms. Torres said. “Using the excuse of ‘do what I say, not as I do’ is not helping this deadly epidemic. It’s up to this generation to help change the next.”
The generosity of PTSA supporters has allowed the organization to establish a new “It Can Wait; Don’t Text and Drive” scholarship, which will be presented to a pair of graduating seniors. Recipients of the first two $500 scholarships will be announced at the high school’s senior academic awards night later this spring. Details concerning the scholarship are available in the high school guidance office.
Sponsors of the Huntington PTSA’s “It Can Wait” initiative include Huntington Toyota, NY Auto Giant, Huntington Chevrolet, Huntington Honda, Affinity Health Plan, Huntington Station BID, Texting Awareness Foundation, Vittorio Auto Body, Reinwald’s Bakery, A Rise Above Bake Shop, Alfredo’s Pane Di Casa Bakery and Wild Flours Bake Shop.
Huntington PTSA officials also expressed their gratitude to Mr. Polansky, Principal Carmela Leonardi, Assistant Principal Brenden Cusack, high school faculty and staff, custodial crew members and the Key Club, student government and Young Leaders for their support and encouragement during the current educational campaign.