Marietta High School students get lesson in distracted driving
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MARIETTA -- A distracted driving simulator is reminding students to drive safely and spreading awareness of a new law taking effect this month.
As a part of Distracted Awareness Month, the Ohio Department of Transportation and Marietta Police Department collaborated to place a distracted driving simulator at Marietta High School on Thursday.
"We've been looking to partner with local law enforcement to raise awareness, because April is Distracted Driving Awareness month," said ODOT Public Information Officer Ashley Rittenhouse.
Rittenhouse said a new law took effect on April 4, enforcing a general ban on using or holding a phone while driving.
"We're trying to get the word out," she said. "Between now and October is an awareness period. Drivers will get a warning. Then officers will start ticketing in October."
The simulator was placed outside the school gymnasium, which gave students easy access.
"Any student that comes by in between classes can try it," Rittenhouse said.
She also said the simulator emulates real life situations.
"It looks like a video game," Rittenhouse said. "It asks them to send texts and come across realistic road hazards."
School Resource Officer Rob Sury of the Marietta Police Department said the event's timing aligned with another student event.
"(Marietta's) prom is this weekend," he said. "We want students to drive safely when going home from prom."
Kristen Hainkel can be reached at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com