June 6, 2014 - UTI-Exton Students Hit the Brakes on Distracted Driving

Students at UTI-Exton learned about the dangers of distracted driving during a day-long event coinciding with Distracted Driving Awareness Month. More than 360 students signing a pledge to drive cell phone free.

On Tuesday, April 22, students and staff at Universal Technical Institute (UTI) observed Distracted Driving Awareness Month at the Exton campus with a day of educational presentations and videos on the dangers of distracted driving.  UTI-Exton partnered with national organization, End Distracted Driving (EndDD), and local organization, the Chester County Highway Safety Project, to provide students and staff with the educational tools necessary to make smart decisions and practice safe behaviors behind the wheel. 

Joel Feldman, founder of EndDD, gave a motivational presentation and shared his personal experience with distracted driving and how it changed his life forever.  Chester County Highway Safety Project had a table set up with informational materials as well as simulation games the students could play that helped demonstrate how difficult it is to concentrate on a task while texting at the same time.

The day culminated with students on campus pledging to keep the roadways safe by driving cell phone -free, to raise awareness among others about the dangers of texting while driving, and to be a good passenger and speak out if the driving is practicing distracting behaviors. 

More than 360 students signed a pledge form, and for each pledge signed, UTI-Exton agreed to donate $1 to EndDD and the Chester County Highway Safety Project.

Distracted driving kills and injures thousands of people each year. According to the National Safety Council, more than 1.6 million car accidents occur each year as a result of drivers using cell phones while at the wheel. That equates to about 26 percent of all auto collisions involving cell phones.  

As the future auto and diesel technicians of America, there is no population better suited to raise awareness on the dangers of distracted driving than students at Universal Technical Institute.  Not only do they know their way around cars, but they also make up the prime demographic (males age 18-23) who most often fall victims to car accidents.  A National Safety Council study found that thirteen percent of drivers age 18-20 involved in car wrecks admitted to texting or talking on their mobile devices at the time of the crash.

“As we as a society become increasingly dependent on technology in our daily routine, we must do everything we can to educate the younger generation on the dangers of distracted driving,” said Bob Kessler, campus president at UTI-Exton.  “It is imperative they recognize that when they get behind the wheel, they are claiming responsibility not only for themselves, but also for the lives of others on the road.”

For more information on UTI’s Exton campus in the Philadelphia area, visit our website and stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.