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CHS tackles distracted driving
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.The Canfield Police Department, in cooperation with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, presented the dangers of distracted driving to all Canfield High School students April 29. Canfield Police Department and School Resource Officer Steve Garstka (back) provided, from left, sophomore Madison Terlizzi, senior Andrew Bailing, junior Tanor English, sophomore Paul Breinz, sophomore Nick O’Hara and freshman Zayd Ali with an up-close look at a car involved in a texting and driving accident.
By ABBY SLANKER
To highlight Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Canfield Police Department, in cooperation with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, presented the dangers of distracted driving to all Canfield High School students on April 29.
Trooper David Brown, with the State of Ohio Highway Patrol Post in Canfield, addressed the students with the assistance of Canfield Police Department and School Resource Officer Steve Garstka.
“This presentation focused on distracted driving, which is any activity which could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. There are many kinds of distracted driving, including drunk driving, drug impaired driving, speed, eating and drinking, putting on make up, using a navigation system, finding music to play and, of course, texting. All distractions endanger driver, passenger and bystander safety, but text messaging requires visual, manual and cognitive attention from the driver, so it is by far the most alarming distraction,” said Officer Steve Garstka.
Students will also have an opportunity to sign a distracted driver pledge and visit a car at the entrance of the school that was involved in a texting crash. The crashed Grand Am was involved in an accident when its 19-year-old driver, with her three-year-old nephew strapped into a car seat in the back, tried to text while driving and totaled the car on Oct. 6, 2015.
“Any teacher can contact me throughout the next week and we can take the students outside to get an up-close look at the wrecked car and students can ask any questions they have about distracted driving. They can also sign a pledge to not drive while distracted,” Office Garstka said.
Garstka said both the Canfield Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol wanted to give the students the facts about distracted driving.
“Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55 miles per hour, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. We want these kids to have all the facts and information they need before they get behind the wheel. We want them to be informed and, most importantly, keep themselves safe,” Garstka said.