Teen drivers urged not to text and drive

Allstate in Atlanta is hosting an “X the Text” event Thursday to prevent teens from texting and driving.

Area agent Kirk Martin will visit Whitefield Academy in Smyrna and talk to students about the dangers of distracted driving. Students can add their thumbprints to a pledge banner as a symbol of their no-texting promise, and will receive thumb bands to serve as daily reminders.

In a recent Allstate study, 49 percent of teens admitted to being extremely distracted by texting while driving.