DUBLIN, Ga. — Laurens County students are learning why it's important to remove distractions while driving and follow traffic laws.
The Lutzie 43 Foundation and the Georgia Department of Transportation make these safe driving summits happen around the state.
"We're trying to change the narrative on the number of lives we're losing on the roadways on an annual basis due to crashes," Mike Lutzenkirchen said.
Many of these high school students aren't officially behind the wheel yet, but they are learning all the safe practices now.
"Crashes can be avoided if you if just don't get distracted by your phone," Junior Ka’mariyana Bell said.
The driving force behind this summit is the Lutzie 43 Executive Director Mike Lutzenkirchen. He and his family started the foundation in honor of their son Phillip.
"Phillip and a friend lost their lives in a single-vehicle crash that almost took the lives of two other kids,” he said. “So, our faith has driven us to create what's called the Lutzie 43 Foundation."
They say over 40,000 people died in car crashes in 2022. Their mission is to hold safe driving summits all around the state to reduce that number. Phillip's mother Mary Lutzenkirchen said she's glad they can use their painful experience to educate new drivers.
"We put a human face to the tragedy,” she said. “We put a normal, young man who was just like them, and we put a face to it. So, I think that alone helps them to take a little bit more time to listen and to learn because we are a real story."
Phillip played football at Auburn University. He wore number 43. Now, the foundation uses that number as a reminder to drivers to take 43 key seconds to make sure they have a clear head, clear hands, clear eyes and a seatbelt on.
"I think I'll be more cautious of my speed and wear my seatbelt a lot more," Sophomore Hudson Burdney said.
The foundation has about 20 driving summits under their belt with plans to do a lot more across the state.