A DRIVING instructors’ association drove home the dangers of texting while driving to a group of teenagers yesterday.

Ten members of the Bishop Auckland Driving Instructors Association visited St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form Centre, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, to promote their organisation, and deter youngsters from sending text messages while driving.

More than 150 lower sixth form students, aged 16 and 17, were shown a hard-hitting DVD created by police in Wales, showing the devastating consequences of a crash caused by a teenage driver who had been distracted by sending a text message.

The association’s chairman, Darran Shaw, who runs the Auckland School of Motoring, said the footage had a profound effect on the youngsters – most of whom admitted they had either texted while driving themselves, or been a passenger with a driver using a mobile phone.

“The video had a massive impact on a lot of the young people,” he said.

“There seems to have been a big increase in motorists sending texts while driving since the ban on using mobile phones was introduced in 2003.

Too many people are dying as a consequence.”

The association is revisiting the school next week to deliver the presentation to upper sixth form students.

Schools wishing to book the session can call Mr Shaw on 07966-234714 or visit ba-dia.co.uk