The Wenatchee High School Inspire Club conducted a survey on how distracted driving has affected the students of WHS. A total of 368 surveys were completed; 328 student surveys and 40 staff surveys. The poll revealed that teens who had parents that drove while texting were prone to similar behavior.

When looking at the results of the survey, WHS Prevention/Intervention Specialist and Inspire Club adviser Amy McCubbin noticed something interesting. “The students who put that they have rarely been in a car with a distracted parent, are the ones that have been in a vehicle with a distracted driver one or zero days in the last week, which includes themselves,” said McCubbin. “Even though it wasn’t the intent of the survey, we found that the actions of parents directly translate to the actions of their kids. So in turn, when kids see their parents texting and driving they will most likely do the same.”

The club does something on distracted driving every year but they conducted the survey this year mainly because of a $500 grant from State Farm and the Washington Traffic Safety Association.

“The students plan on using the money for a speaker next year to speak on awareness of some sort. Something about texting and driving or driving under the influence,” said McCubbin.

Inspire Club took the results of the survey and made posters along with relaying information over the morning announcements.

“Earlier this year a lady from the local Traffic Safety Association brought in a big glass box full of around 450 house keys,” said McCubbin. “It represented the amount of people in Washington that were never able to come home due to distracted driving, drunk driving, and other related incidents. It really affected the students and inspired them to make other people aware of this issue.”