Keats Vanderlee says he understands and respects Ontario’s tough texting and driving laws.
The St. Joseph-Scollard Hall grade 12 student got his drivers license about a year ago.
“If I ever do get a text in the car I don’t respond until I get out because it’s down there and I don’t usually notice it most of the time. When you look down at your phone for two seconds anything can happen on the road really, like anything at all,” said Vanderlee.
Vanderlee was one of a number of students at the North Bay high school that took part in a free ticket campaign as part of National Teen Safety Driving Week.
North Bay Police Constable Ken Ayres was with a few students talking about Distracted Driving.
Ayres asked students to complete a "Positive Ticket" which the students entered into a ballot box.
The ballot box will then be collected and sent back to Parachute, who sponsored the event.
All names will be entered into a draw for the possibility of winning a $1,000 gift card.
Ayres hopes the winners are the students who recognize today’s distracted driving message.
“I’m sure they are all well aware. It’s just that thirst and need for that information and communication so having this educational forum with the students here I’d like to also say that all the kids that are in the school today have parents who are our age, my age, and you lead by example,” said Ayres.
“So if I’m driving my motor vehicle with my 17-year-old daughter in the car, and I’m driving and texting, what kind of a message am I sending?”
