‘Just Drive' week at CHS to warn against distracted driving

A “Just Drive” week to warn students about the dangers of distracted driving begins at Crestview High School Monday in honor of Megan Warman, 18, who died Feb. 7 from injuries she sustained in a Jan. 27 wreck that occurred while she was texting while driving.

CHS students in leadership classes planned the week of activities in the days following Warman’s death. She was a senior at the school.

“We want to affect the community in a positive way for Megan,” CHS senior and leadership class member Brittney Woods said.

 “I usually do programs to make the students more aware of the need for safety during spring break and prom time,” said Corp. Greg Porch, School Resource Officer for CHS. “But this year, after Megan’s accident, the leadership class came to me and asked if they could do the program and I was glad to see their heartfelt involvement.”

Deborah Holland, national business sales director for Sprint/Nextel Cellular, contacted the school in early February with an offer to provide “don’t text and drive” thumb rings to each student.

“I am in the cell phone industry and my livelihood is selling communication tools,” Holland said. “But some things don’t mix like texting and driving. Having a cause (Megan) makes these thumb rings reactive, but we want this program to be proactive for others.”

The thumb rings will be given to the students in exchange for them signing a pledge card to not text and drive. 

“The thumb rings will open up a lot of areas,” Porch said. “They will serve as a subliminal reminder to the students to not text – as they almost always use their thumbs to do so. And they will start conversations with other people so students will have the opportunity to tell Megan’s story and their commitment to ‘Just Drive.’” 

Students have made posters to hang throughout the school cautioning against texting and driving and warning of other driving distraction as well.

“We all have phones and wherever we are if they beep or ring or flash, our curiosity makes us pick it up – even driving – until Megan’s death, and now it’s like I put it down in the door of the car and don’t mess with it,” senior Geoffrey Loften said. “I just wish there would have been another way to get people’s attention without Megan’s death.”

The Crestview chapter of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs provided a “Just Drive” banner to hang in the hallway and students will be asked to sign the banner to show their commitment to heed the warning.

Warman’s legal guardian, Rusty Fine, will speak to students at the school Thursday about the legacy she leaves behind. A trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol is also expected to speak to the students. 

Students will sell green “Just Drive” tee shirts, with proceeds going to Megan’s family for medical expenses they incurred.

“We’ve asked all the high schools in Okaloosa County to wear green for Megan’s memory this Thursday and we will all have on our shirts,” Woods said. “We hope that the message just keeps going and going.”