HORSHAM — Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States? Students learn about the dangers of drunken driving and are reminded about the importance of wearing seat belts, but there is another safety issue they must become aware of to stay safe behind the wheel: distracted driving. Hatboro-Horsham staff and educators want students to know that “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All.”

Hatboro-Horsham High School educators will share that strong message of how distracted driving can change their lives forever during National Teen Driver Safety Week, which will take place during the week of Oct. 14 through 20. Homeroom teachers will make announcements and share videos that speak to the dangers of distracted driving and the importance of being fully alert while operating a vehicle.

“Distracted driving comes in many forms. It can include electronic distractions, like navigation systems and cell phones, or more conventional distractions, like interacting with passengers and eating,” Hatboro-Horsham High School Principal Dennis Williams Jr. “National Teen Driver Safety Week is designed to help students become conscious of their decisions and how a simple text or phone call could change someone’s life forever.”

Additionally, the school’s driver education staff will ask students and faculty to sign a pledge during lunches that:

• Protect lives by never texting or talking on the phone while driving

• Be a good passenger and speak out if the driver in the car is distracted

• Encourage friends and family to drive phone-free

“Our students and the public need to understand that electronic devices and automobiles do not go together,” Williams said. “Thanks to the hard work of Hatboro-Horsham High School teachers Timothy Behe and Dana Sacony, we can share this important message with all of our students.”