Local school hosts teen driver program

BAKER, Fla. (WALA) - Bit by bit, Barbara Chestnut spreads the fake blood across her daughter's face. Courtney Nicaise is playing dead in Baker High School's reenactment of a fatal accident, all started by a distracted driver.

"We have [the blood] all over [my arm], all over [my shoulder], and then we have it coming out of my ears and just all on my face because I'm going to be lying this way, so it's all coming down," Nicaise said.

For Chestnut, today brings back some not-so-distant memories, not only because she works for the EMS, but because Nicaise was in an accident just two weeks ago.

"When the phone rang and she was crying on the other end, it just hit home as something I really thought I was never going to have to deal with, and all I could think of was get to my daughter as fast as I could. And I did," Chestnut said. "And then, when I pulled up and saw her car, I about threw up because I've seen it too many times. I know how bad it could be. And thank God she's okay."

Courtney wasn't drinking, texting or even putting on make-up. She's guilty of simply sitting at a stop light. A distracted driver T-boned her, but thankfully, she sustained only minor injuries.

"I know a lot more could have happened, so I really am just lucky to be alive," Nicaise said.

The Florida Senate has had enough with cases like this one and has introduced a bill which would ban texting and driving. As it would be only a secondary offense, fines would be levied to anyone guilty if stopped for another reason.

If someone causes an accident because they were texting, they're looking at six points added to their license - half of what it takes for a suspension.

That bill will be voted on by March and could be effective by October 1, 2012.

For now, programs like the one at Baker hope to raise awareness.

Teen driving demonstrations hit home for all schools, but for Baker even more so. They've lost two students in the last three years to reckless driving accidents, Tyler Jones and Travis Peoples.

School resource officer Don Fountain, who organized the demonstration, has seen enough.

"We're hoping that everything that we do today, if we save the life of one young person, every ounce of effort that we put into this project will be worth it," Fountain said.

Baker High School will hosted a teen driver safety program Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the stadium. All students in grades 9-12 attended as School Resource Officer Don Fountain educated them on topics like DUI, texting and driving, and seatbelt safety.

However, the movement doesn't end in the schools.

Florida Senate Bill 416 would allow law enforcement to ticket those texting if they're stopped for another offense. Senator Greg Evers (R-Baker) told FOX10 News that he can't speak for the House, but he expects the bill to clear the Senate.