When a loved one is lost, will people start to care? Will it be noted when an innocent child’s life gets torn away from this world? Causing death rate to rise, drunk driving, texting while driving, and purely mindless driving become more common.

Many citizens and companies have recently started to realize the severity of the situation; such as State Farm, a national insurance company. By creating the Celebrate My Drive organization, steps are being taken to properly inform and teach teens and even some adults the dangers of not taking driving seriously.

Celebrate My Drive recently launched a contest to educate teens on wise driving techniques by promoting several options. State Farm sponsored a competition for schools all over the U.S. to convince their students to take a short survey and sign a contract promising to make safe and smart choices while behind the wheel.

“They should have taken it more seriously. I don’t think they should have given the students the responsibility to do it at home though, promote it more to be completed in school,” sophomore Susana Sandino said. “I know I only did it once, my teachers barely even mentioned it.”

Palmetto High School was entered into the contest and even went as far as installing computers by the cafeteria for a week, to encourage students to participate. The winning schools would receive 100,000 dollars as well as a performance from country singer, Kelly Clarkson.

“ I wish we would have won because it went to help a legitimate cause,” sophomore Isabel Perozo said. “ We need more awareness for texting and driving.”

Palmetto lost at epic proportions, yet some teachers really pushed students to sign up and vote daily. Imagine what 100,000 dollars could be used for at a school. Therefore, when the loss was announced, a hush of disappointment flooded the halls and classrooms of Palmetto Senior High School.

“I signed it multiple times, I am very upset that we lost because I really pushed for it at the environmental fair,” senior Erick Cinco said. “I was working on a solar energy booth, so I tied their booth to mine and would constantly direct people to the Celebrate My Drive booth after I presented my booth.”

Kudos to State Farm for taking a stand against a growing issue that universally concerns everyone who has ever stepped foot in a car. In addition to driving becoming more common among young people, accidents are too. Teenagers need to become more aware of the laws and rules regulating operating a vehicle.

Though it is devastating to those die-hard Kelly Clarkson fans at Palmetto, this experience serves as an eye opener.