Cell phones, cars and teens don't mix

The No. 1 cause of death among teenagers is no longer drinking and driving — it’s distracted driving.

Nearly every teen now has a cell phone, and texting and talking on cell phones while driving is a nationwide problem — recent studies show that more than 3,000 teens in 2012 alone died from distracted driving, and another 300,000 were injured.

Last week, Columbia Falls High School students vowed to do something about it, as hundreds signed up for the Celebrate My Drive contest sponsored by State Farm Insurance.

Students pledged to drive more safely — two eyes on the road, two hands on the wheel is the slogan. In return, schools and communities with the most pledges in the U.S. get a chance to win grants up to $100,000. The grand prize is a free concert by the country music group Band Perry.

The Columbia Falls Key Club is sponsoring the local effort. People making pledges don’t have to be in high school to help the school for a chance at one of 90 grants — they just have to be more than 14 years old.

Statistics show that more than 75 percent of teen students admit to texting and driving at some point. Teen deaths from distracted driving have eclipsed drunk driving nationwide.

Montana Highway Patrol trooper Andy Horton spoke about distracted driving to students at the high school last week, noting that 26 percent of all accidents nationwide involved cell phone use — that’s 1.2 million of the 5.6 million crashes in 2013.

Horton recalled the story of one driver who was talking on a cell phone and went through a red light, missing three cars before T-boning a fourth, killing a two-year-old. The driver didn’t even recall seeing the other three cars she missed.

Montana’s laws against using cell phones while driving are lax. There is no statewide ban, but the city of Columbia Falls enacted a ban on cell phone use while driving after several high-profile accidents in and near the city — including two where motorists drove into the Flathead River.

The fine is significant — $100.

The State Farm contest runs through Oct. 24. The online link to pledge is at www.celebratemydrive.com/Commit.