PECI video thanks role model parents who put down their phones

A powerful, new video unveiled today at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute speaks directly to parents about the responsibility they have as a role model to not text and drive.

The video features PECI students recognizing that parents play a key role in preventing injuries and death and aims to remind parents of this important role.

While there are many other road safety challenges for teens, distracted driving has become particularly concerning. Studies indicate a driver talking on a cell phone is four times more likely to be in a crash, and a texting driver is 23 times more likely to crash.

The video, which focuses on the importance of parents displaying safe driving behaviours, is the result of a project that began last fall.

The project invited the Grade 11/12 Communications Technology class at PECI to partner with Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) and Prince Edward County OPP to create and implement a campaign against distracted driving. The winning campaign included a video with such impact that public health chose to re-create the video professionally by Ben Quaiff Media to help spread the students’ message.

The release of this video is timely, considering that Public Health Ontario recently found that individuals between the ages of 16 -24 indicated they would be most receptive to receiving messages about texting while driving from their parents. The health unit and OPP note the safety practiced by teen drivers is an important concern, with motor vehicle collisions being a main cause of injury and death for this age group.

“Parents may not realize the influence they can have in keeping their young driver safe,” says Kerri Jianopoulos, Public Health Nurse with HPEPH. “This video was the result of students using a creative approach to remind parents of the impact of their actions.”