Eisenhower High School junior Caroline Hishman signs a Save A Life banner on Monday pledging not to text and drive.

It only takes a moment of distraction.

On Monday, the Save a Life Tour visited Eisenhower High School to spread a message of caution.

“We’re trying to prevent people from texting while driving,” Miguel Gonzalez of Kramer Entertainment out of Grand Rapids, Mich., said.

Eisenhower students, regardless of whether they drive or are old enough to, were invited to try out simulators.

“Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) brought in these simulators to open the students’ eyes and create awareness about the dangers of distracted driving,” SADD Advisor Eric Shotts said. “We’re trying to give the opportunity to every kid in nine through 12.”

In one simulator, students had to hold onto a cellular phone and respond to the texts sent to them while continuing to drive.

Students who made it through three minutes of simulated driving without a crash were given the title of ‘survivor.’

Many crashed, ending their simulations.

The Save-a-Life staff encouraged students to imagine their they had loved ones in the car with them who would be killed if they crashed.

Almost all students had serious problems — maintaining the speed limit, keeping the car on the road, not crashing into vehicles or buildings, or not responding to the texts, but some made it through.

The texts started 20 seconds after the simulation began.

“It was pretty easy when it started,” junior Caroline Hishman said. “When I started focusing on my phone, texting, it was really hard.”

“I wouldn’t want to text and drive,” sophomore Josh Bortz said. “It’s hard.”

“It was hard. You had to look down at your phone,” sophomore Ian Goldthwaite said. “You don’t want to kill anyone accidentally. I’d feel terrible if I did that.”

The other simulator was set up to reflect a delayed response that would approximate the delayed responses of an intoxicated driver.

“It’s good to know this stuff for the road,” Goldthwaite said. “It helps.”

There was also an opportunity for students to promise not to text and drive. “We have a pledge banner that Save-a-Life brought to us,” Shotts said. Students who sign agree “that they will not text and drive when they start driving and to be more focused on driving.”

Hishman explained what she learned from the simulators and what signing the banner meant to her. “Be more aware of your surroundings… be focused on where you’re going and how fast you’re driving rather than the people in the car,” she said. And “not to text and drive.”