Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) recently met with Emily and Anna Lawrence, twin sisters attending JFK High School in Bellmore. The sisters recently co-founded STANDD, Stop Texting and Driving, to highlight the dangers of texting for their peers.

“Texting and driving is a serious issue, and, on average, 11 teenagers die per day because of texting-and-driving accidents,” said McDonough. “Over the past few years, my colleagues and I have enacted tougher penalties on those who text and drive in an effort to stall this disturbing trend. However, this message means so much more when it comes from a peer, and I’m pleased to see young people like Emily and Anna getting involved and encouraging others not to text and drive.”

The students have launched an online petition which others can sign at the Move On Petitions Web site.

Under the current law, young and new drivers convicted of texting-while-driving will have their license suspended for 120 days on the first offense. For second offenses, young and new drivers will have their license suspended for one full year.