Bob Jones Peer Helpers declare ‘Donut Text & Drive’

Student 2 Student (S2S) Peer Helpers at Bob Jones High School will give away donuts on Dec. 8 with their “Donut Text & Drive” campaign. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – In their “Donut Text & Drive” campaign, Student 2 Student (S2S) Peer Helpers at Bob Jones High School are warning about texting-while-driving dangers.

The “Donut Text & Drive” slogan will help spread awareness throughout the school, Peer Helper Lauren Nuwayhid said.

On Dec. 8, Peer Helpers will give free donuts to the first 50 students who make a pledge against texting while driving. Donuts will be distributed in the downstairs C-Wing. Donut Palace at 7985 U. S. 72 in Madison is donating the donuts.

“The rest of Bob Jones students can pledge all week until Dec. 12. Peer Helpers will be in the lunchroom to take pledges,” Nuwayhid said.

Maddie Luther with Peer Helpers presented the idea, and the group determined the concept as unique and feasible. Peer Helpers liked the pun, along with avoiding overused, cliches.

Bob Jones offers S2S Peer Helpers as a class, with Bridget Drummond as primary teacher and Michael Hoyle assisting. “Teens believe that if they wait (to text after driving) they’ll miss out on what’s going on right then and there,” Hoyle said. “They want to respond right then so people aren’t waiting.”

S2S Peer Helpers offered statistics on texting and driving:

* A person who texts/drives is 23 times more likely to have an accident.

* In crashes, 13 percent of 18- through 20-year-olds were texting or talking on the phone.

* An alarming 77 percent of teens are comfortable with texting/driving.

* Texting/driving teenagers drive outside their lane 10 percent of the time.

* Fifteen percent of teens have seen their parents text/drive.

Peer Helper Abby Holtzclaw believes her “generation needs to realize, while answering a text we value at this particular moment may be important, the lives affected are far more valuable.”

“You’re risking your life and future to answer one text that probably won’t mean anything to your life or future 10 years from now,” Monique Mersereau said.

For more information, email to bcdrummond@madisoncity.k12.al.us or visit Twitter @BJHSpeerhelpers.