Missouri Teens Fight Distracted Driving

0:00Missouri teens are stepping a big time in the fight against distracted driving thanks to the sit-ins banning hands-free law that made texting behind the wheel illegal last year. The state highway patrol has handed out more than 4,000 citations and warnings since enforcement kicked off, and now 67 high schools. Jumped into triple A's buckle up phone down challenge, getting folks in their communities to pledge hands-free driving. The law got its name from two guys killed by distracted drivers, including Michael Bening back on May 13th, 2021, when A. Phone glued motor is smashed into him on Interstate 49. His widow pushed hard for the bill, and it passed two years later, turning her pain into statewide change. Students like those from Liberty High are out there explaining the pledge to neighbors, bringing in crash survivors to talk to health classes, and building those safe driving habits early. People say, hitting kids young plant seeds for a better road future, and it's already

1:00paying off with distracted driving crashes down 16%. Penalties hit hard, too. First ticket runs $150, third offense jumps to 500, and if a distracted driver causes the death. They could face up to seven years in prison since its secondary enforcement, meaning cops tack it on during stops for speeding or reckless moves. With teens leading pledges and widows sharing real stories in schools, Missouri's building a generation that knows one simple choice, phone down can, straight up save lives on these streets. Kansas News Today, powered by AI, bringing you what matters.