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Everyone Welcome
Sunday, May 25at Arnold Town Hall
12 p.m. Potluck Dinner
Ruby-Arnold Picnic
DoorPrizes
C20-2x
Bring your kids and friends!
Call 715-452-5612.
Lake Holcombe students take the pledge ‘to wait’
By Monique Westaby
At an It Can Wait assembly at Lake Holcombe School May
7, sixth through twelfth grade students had the opportunity
to see just how texting while driving can impair a driver.
“Everyone always thinks it won’t happen to them,” said
Morgan Webster, student council president. “But it does hap-
pen and the message is very simple: There’s no text worth
dying for.”
A simulation experience was set up for three students to
try their hand at texting and driving. All three of them failed
to follow basic traffic laws while on their phones, resulting
in failure to stop at a stop sign and speeding violations.
Although students found humor in the simulation, Kent
Disch, AT&T Wisconsin, says the simulation is really an eye
opener. “If the heavy stuff doesn’t reach them, then maybe
the lighter stuff will.”
In 2013, Wisconsin drivers were convicted of 399 counts
of texting while driving, while inattentive drivers were con-
victed 8,492 times. Donald Lyden, safety research analyst
with the Bureau of Transportation Safety, says many mo-
torists who text are often cited for inattentive driving.
“Studies have shown that you are more impaired when you
text and drive, than if you were legally drunk,” said Disch.
“Everyone raised their hands when they said they’ve been in
a car with somebody who was texting. How many of you
would have gotten in that same car if you knew the person
driving was drunk? Probably none of you.
“If you wouldn’t get in a car with someone who’s been
drinking, don’t let your friend text while driving.”
Nationally, research shows 200,000 accidents happen
yearly that involve texting, up from the 100,000 estimate
given a few years ago.
“There is no doubt that texting is a dangerous practice
while driving,” said Sen. Terry Moulton at the assembly. “It’s
one of the most dangerous things you can do behind the
wheel.”
Moulton said the average text takes about 5 seconds. At 55
m.p.h., a vehicle will have traveled the length of a football
field in that time.
“Imagine closing your eyes for 5 seconds at 55 m.p.h.,”
said Moulton. “I don’t think that’s something you would ever
imagine doing in real life.”
In 2010, the Wisconsin Legislature passed a law that bans
texting while driving. Mark Walloch, Wisconsin State Patrol
trooper, says those convicted of the offense will receive a
$187.50 fine, as well as four demerit points on their license.
“Law enforcement officers want you to comply voluntarily
with the law and never text while driving,” said Walloch. “We
are not eager to give you a ticket, but if you don’t comply
with the law, you’re risking a ticket and something much
worse.”
“educates the public about the dangers of texting while driv-
ing, and encourages consumers to take the pledge to never
text and drive at ItCanWait.com,” according to a release from
AT&T Wisconsin.
Since 2010, AT&T, AAA and the State Patrol have part-
nered together to hold events in 52 cities throughout Wiscon-
sin, reaching nearly 25,000 high school students.
“I want to remind you to not just worry about your texting
and driving,” said Rep. Tom Larson. “You have to worry
about the other guy too. We want to encourage you to take
the pledge, and never text and drive.
“There’s nothing more important than your safety and the
safety of others on the highway.”
An It Can Wait assembly was held at Lake Holcombe School May 7, to tell (and
show) students how texting is a distraction while driving. Representatives for
the campaign and state were at the event to talk with over 115 middle and high
school students. From left, Mary Miller, AAA Wisconsin; Rep. Tom Larson;
Mark Walloch, WI State Patrol; Sen. Terry Moulton; Kent Disch, AT&T Wiscon-
sin; Morgan Webster, Lake Holcombe student council president.
(Photo by Monique Westaby)
Amanda Ewer was the first to test out the distracted
driving simulator, showing how gas and brake ped-
als were used to make things “more realistic.” Ewer
was “cited” for failing to stop at a stop sign after
receiving a call from a friend.
(Photo by Monique Westaby)
Students and staff “took the pledge” to never text
and drive after the It Can Wait assembly May 7, at
Lake Holcombe School. Students sealed their com-
mittment with a signature and thumbprint.
(Photo by Monique Westaby)
AREA NEWS Thursday, May 22, 2014
COURIER SENTINEL Page 13
Walloch referenced a case
from 2012, where a 19-year-
old girl was sentenced to
prison after texting while
driving. The girl hit and
killed a UW student, who
was standing behind his dis-
abled vehicle. “That moment
will haunt her for the rest of
her life.”
The It Can Wait campaign,
launched by AT&T in 2009,
Above: Katie Rhude also
experienced the dis-
tracted driving simulator.
While texting and driving,
Rhude’s session ended
when she was “caught”
speeding on the inter-
state. Bailey Viegut also
participated in the simu-
lation, with her session
ending in speeding while
“looking up movie times”
on her phone.
(Photo by
Monique Westaby)