For decades, student drivers have learned to parallel park, change a tire and properly navigate tricky intersections.

In 2022, they also learn the consequences of driving distracted.

“We want them to know that there are consequences to driving distracted and driving impaired,” said Bill McQuilken, trauma prevention coordinator with Lehigh Valley Health Network.

“You’re going to injure or kill yourself or someone else, or you’re going to go to prison.”

Jim Thorpe students received a lesson in the dangers of texting and driving on Friday. LVHN and the Highway Safety Network brought distracted driving simulators to the school. Using a simulator which looked a lot like a racing video game, they had to navigate around busy intersections, parking lots and pedestrians.

Unlike a video game, the simulator informed them of the real-life consequences if they caused an accident. After a fender bender, the screen would show the bill with the cost of their fine, increased insurance, and auto repairs. A serious crash would lead to a video of a real Lehigh County judge sentencing them for reckless endangering or vehicular manslaughter.

“Most kids come in here, especially the ones who drive, and they think it’s a video game. This shows the consequences are not like that. There are severe consequences,” said Mindy Graver, a volunteer with Carbon County Kids Zone.

Each year in Pennsylvania there are over 10,000 crashes where distracted driving was a factor. Dozens result in fatalities.

The state has a distracted driving law, but unlike some other states, police officers can’t pull over drivers for texting and driving. Drivers can be cited after a crash if it’s determined they were using their phone for reading, writing, or sending messages. The penalty is a $50 fine.

The students who took part in the training are either new drivers, or will be receiving their license in the next couple years. Many of them said that using a phone behind the wheel isn’t worth it. Senior Cam Tinajero said he’s seen on the road how other drivers can become dangerous when distracted by their phones.

“It can happen in a second. One minute you’re fine and the next your car is on the road, crashed into,” he said.

Students said they avoid distractions themselves by leaving the phone in the back seat, using a car’s own technology, and turning on voice commands for GPS.

Amara Robinson, a sophomore, set up her phone to only receive calls from a few essential contacts when she’s driving because she wants to stay focused on the road.

“It’s scary to think about how something like your phone can cause major injuries or even death to you and people around you that you may not even know. Because that’s other people’s loved ones,” Robinson said.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. From April 4-10 the Highway Safety Network is hosting a TikTok contest for students in grades 7-12, with prizes up to $500. Students must create a video on their public TikTok with a message about the dangers of distracted driving, with the hashtags #HSNandSF22, #stopDD, and #ContestEntry. The contest is open to students living in PennDOT Districts 2, 3, 5 and 12 - which includes Carbon, Schuylkill, Monroe, Lehigh and Northampton counties. For more information visit highwaysafetynetwork.org.