Young drivers in central Pennsylvania were warned Tuesday about the dangers of texting while driving.
A new state law banning the activity is about to go into effect in a little more than 24 hours.
During a conference of Students Against Destructive Decisions, or SADD, at Penn College in Williamsport High School students got the life-saving lesson all Pennsylvanians should know by this time Thursday.
Lycoming County Coroner Chuck Kiessling reminded the students that it will be illegal to use cell phones to text while they are behind the wheel.
"Thursday it becomes officially the law, you can be cited, pay a $50 fine, but worse the effect of texting and driving, it's distracted driving. It can kill people," said Kiessling.
On their way out, students were given finger bands that say "Texting Kills."
"I think it will help. It sticks out, once you go for your phone, and you see it, it will stick out and hopefully people will put their phones down," said Kayla Schneider of Williamsport
"I just saw a lot of stuff in there that makes your mind uneasy to go ahead and text while driving. Scares you a little bit," said Anthony Estrada, also of Williamsport.
Emergency officials believe the new law will save lives, saying texting while driving sometimes impairs the driver more than if he or she were drunk.
It will be a challenge to enforce the new texting and driving law on Pennsylvania's roads and highways, according to state police. However they plan to use visual observation to catch drivers behind the wheel texting when they should not be.
