Staff Writer

 Rajheem Lang jabbed at the buttons of his cell phone while careening around a corner and knocking over traffic cones.

A few second later, he slid out from behind the wheel of a golf cart, waved to the police officer who was riding next to him and walked away from the type of driving that would normally earn a traffic ticket.

“I hit like four kids,” said Lang, 18, as he pointed to orange cones scattered across an obstacle course behind Old Orchard Beach High School. “That’s not good.”

Lang and his classmates spent part of their lunch period last week with police officers who were trying to reinforce the dangers of texting while driving.

With an officer by their side, students drove golf carts twice through a course marked by traffic cones, the second time while sending a text message to a friend.

School Resource Officer Peter Guay said students are very receptive to messages about dangerous driving behavior. The obstacle course was a first at the high school.

“This gives them a realistic view of what could happen,” he said. “It doesn’t take much. Take your eye off the road and anything can happen in a split second.”

Guay said he estimates about half of the drivers he passes are using cell phones. Eating and talking with passengers also can distract drivers, he said. He said none of the students who participated in the obstacle course were good at texting while driving.

“They’re good at texting, just not texting and driving,” Guay said.

Capt. John Nicholas of the Old Orchard Beach Police Department said students generally decreased their speed without realizing it while they were texting. They also veered off course, knocked over cones and were unable to completely control the golf cart, he said.

“I hope they take home the danger of texting while driving,” he said.

Students who participated in the event also filled out surveys about texting habits. The results, compiled by AAA Northern New England, showed 43 percent of students think it is “extremely dangerous” to text while driving. The same percentage of students said they never text while driving.

Forty-two percent of students said they’ve been a passenger in a car driven by someone who is texting and 40 percent said their parents don’t text, let alone text while driving. The survey, taken by 56 students, indicated that 52 percent send and receive more than 150 text messages a day.

Ariane Bouchard, a 17-year-old junior, said her classmates were eager to try out the course. She said she sometimes glances at text messages while she’s driving, but waits to respond until she is stopped. She hit only one cone while driving, and said she hoped the activity makes students “aware of what they’re doing if they decide to text and drive.”

Jason Regis, 16, said he never texts while driving and hit four cones on the course. He recently watched a TV special on texting while driving and said he wants other teens to understand the danger they face.

“Things like this help get that message out,” he said.

Gabe Kidd, 17, said he only answers phone calls from his mother while driving. Unlike other drivers on the course, he said his speed actually increased while he was trying to send the text message.

“I think it’s a smart idea to have kids do this at a lower speed and in a safe environment,” he said.

Principal Rick DiFusco took his turn on the course while students cheered from the sidelines and an open window.

“I can’t text to begin with,” he laughed as he prepared pull away from the start line.

After knocking over three cones, DiFusco said his text message to Athletic Director Jack Trull was “gobbly-gook.” The obstacle course was a “great” opportunity for students to appreciate the dangers of distracted driving, he said.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.