Students Produce Video About Texting While Driving

NEWPORT NEWS — Geoffrey Wilds sees it all the time while walking his younger brother through the Menchville High School parking lot.

Student drivers — making their way through the parking lot — texting while driving.

"I don't want my little brother getting hit by these idiots," said Wilds, a junior.

Texting while driving has become so commonplace that Wilds and other students from high schools across Newport News decided to create a public service announcement. It was part of a challenge from Police Chief James Fox to the department's student advisory council to devise a volunteer project that could have an impact on the community.

Students shot a 30-second video for a public service announcement. The video shows a student texting, the resulting accident, emergency vehicles arriving and a student being wheeled into a hospital emergency room. It ends showing a text from "mom" asking "Are you OK?"

Christopher Cheely, a Menchville High School senior, directed the video. He said he had all of the scenes imagined in his head, and he paid close attention to every detail. Cheely said his goal is to become a movie director.

The video was shot at Todd Stadium, Mary Immaculate Hospital and Woodside High School.

The students hope to land on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" because the talk show host has campaigned against texting while driving. If it's not showcased on Winfrey's show, the students also aim to have the video shown at high schools across the state and in driver's training classes.

Shooting and editing the video took about four months, the students said.

Taylor Henkel, a Menchville High School junior, said he's happy the message is getting out.

"The road is dangerous enough without any distractions at all," Henkel said. "Nothing is that important that it can't wait 10 to 15 minutes for you to drive home."

To view video go to www.dailypress.com/psa