Ironton residents should not be alarmed if they drive by the high school today and see a car accident.

Ironton High School will be the scene of a mock crash beginning around 1 p.m.

“It’s about changing driver habits. The idea is that if you make an impact now it will have a lasting effect in the future, that’s our fervent desire, said Lt. Michael Gore, commander of the OSHP Ironton Post.”

Besides the State Highway Patrol, St. Mary’s Medical Center, the Lawrence County Juvenile Court, Healthnet and Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Services are putting on the mock crash.

The activity will start with demonstration of a car accident involving a driver and two passengers. First responders will demonstrate attending to the victims. From there, the students will go into the school’s gym, where they will witness a mock trauma center.

The idea is to encourage good driving habits, especially during prom season and the end of the school year.

Text messaging while driving, Gore said, is becoming an increasingly larger problem.

“We get not just the texting but talking on the phone without using a hands-free device,” Gore said. “Recently we had a lady run a stopped school bus because of talking on a cell phone.”

Fortunately the children had not gotten off the bus at the time.

“You absolutely should not be texting and driving,” Gore said. “If you’re looking at your phone, you’re not looking at the road.”

Gore also hopes to encourage students not to drive while impaired by drugs and alcohol.

“Even if its prescription medication, it says right on the box not to operate heavy machinery or drive a car,” he said. “The thing to remember is that it’s just not you, there are other people on the road.”