Several hundred Valencia High School students came face-to-face with the dangers of texting while driving on Thursday.

AT&T Inc. provided the simulator as part of its no-texting-while-driving campaign. The aim was to teach both students and adults about the potential pitfalls that accompany texting while driving, according to Gail Pinsker, spokeswoman for the William S. Hart Union High School District.

The simulator consisted of a phone, a steering wheel and two pedals. Students simulated texting while driving for as long as they could.

“Most ended up crashing,” Pinsker said.

The simulation comes on the heels of another collaboration between AT&T and the Hart district. The district and business partnered in October for the “It Can Wait” campaign, in which students signed an online pledge promising not to text while driving.

Pinsker said she is unsure how many students signed that pledge, but the district plans to hold similar events in the future to continue emphasizing the message to students.

“Studies show texting while driving is just as dangerous as drinking and driving,” Pinsker said. “Students can’t hear this message enough.”

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