DENVER - High schools in Denver are starting to hear about the 9NEWS Great Hang Up campaign partnership with the Denver Police Department to reduce distracted driving.
Some students are finding out about DPD's efforts the hard way.
With more than 2,000 students at East High School, lunch time quickly turns into rush hour.
As students walked to their cars, DPD Officer Damon Landingham watched as they left for lunch.
As kids start driving by, it didn't take long for officer Landingham to spot a driver with her eyes staring down at some device.
"What did I do?" the driver asks Landingham.
"You were manipulating an electronic device," Landingham responds.
"It wasn't my cell phone," the driver answers.
"You don't think that's distracted driving by doing that? You weren't even looking where you were going when approaching the intersection," Landingham said.
Landingham learns the 17-year-old girl was playing with her iPod.
"She was dialing in her favorite song selection, which is no different than being on a cell phone," Landingham said.
"It just takes that one second when you're not looking at what you're doing for someone to step out in front of you and boom, it's all over," Landingham told the teen driver. "Tell all your friends we're out here doing this; they'll probably ask you why you got stopped. Spread the word OK?"
Talking on a cell phone is illegal in Colorado for drivers under the age of 18.
Texting and manipulating iPods and other electronics is illegal for all drivers.
DPD is sending a pre-prom message out to teens.
"We hear about a tragedy every year when they're getting ready for these should-be-happy events, there's always a tragedy every year and we don't want that, we want those tragedies to stop," Landingham said.
As part of 9NEWS partnership with DPD and Denver Public Schools, 9NEWS will be featuring student ambassadors from each Denver high school to lead their school's campaign against distracted driving.
Look for each school to be featured on our morning show before school gets out for the summer.
If you would like to take the 9NEWS Great Hang Up pledge to help stop distracted driving, download the pledge form.
If you have a story about distracted driving you would like to share with us, or if your company or office has decided to sign the pledge as a team, email 9NEWS Anchor/Reporter Eric Kahnert at eric.kahnert@9news.com.
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