Virtual Reality Technology Shows Lubbock High Students the Dangers of Texting While Driving

Its a virtual look at just how dangerous texting behind the wheel can be.

"They are inexperienced drivers so they are not really good at driving thus far and adding the distraction is a bad combination," said Dylan Richardson, a spokesman for the "It Can Wait" campaign.

"You know its been causing a lot of deaths around the country actually. So this campaign will hopefully prevent some unnecessary deaths," said Richardson.

The national "It Can Wait campaign" uses virtual reality technology to show students just how dangerous texting while driving can be.

"Most of the time it is a pretty eye opening experience," said Richardson.

On Monday, many Lubbock High students tried, but few were able to make it through the virtual course without crashing.

"It was extremely disorienting actually," said Ebo Pratt-Panford, a student at Lubbock High.

Pratt-Panford doesn't have his license yet, but this simulation has convinced him NOT to try texting while driving when he does.

"And doing it was just horrible, I don't know why I would do that because yeah there is some pleasure derived from texting while driving, but texting while driving was just too preoccupying," said Pratt-Panford.

Richardson says they're hoping to target teens like Pratt-Panford before they get into a habit of texting behind the wheel.

"That time period where they are just beginning to drive, where they are not experienced drivers and really have a great eye opening experience," said Richardson.

Currently the city of Lubbock only bans texting while driving in school zones, but the Lubbock City Council will discuss a citywide texting while driving ban at their meeting on Thursday.