On Tuesday, Montana marked its first-ever Teen Driver Safety Day, thanks to the efforts of three Belt teens.

Over the past year, several Belt High School students took their message of safe driving to the Montana Legislature and their national DECA conference, but today, they brought that message home to their peers.

Jessica Anderson, Belt High School junior, said, "It's really exciting for it to finally be here because we put so much hard work into it."

The day officially recognized by the state of Montana came with little fanfare; in fact, what you find inside the school where the idea originated is a series of simple discussions among peers.

But it's those simple discussions that could make all the difference, according to the students.

Sam Keaster, a senior, noted, "I think it really opened their eyes. They started to explore the different distractions and actually start to think about it."

Junior Mariah Gondeiro noted, "It encourages self-reflection. All these students will become more aware of distractions (and) it'll stick in their brain now that you can't drive with distractions."

The students have been in touch with every district in the state, hoping that conversations like this are taking place all across Montana today. Eventually, they hope to spread their message of safety and awareness nationwide.

Jessica added, "Hopefully there's lessons and discussions between teachers and students all across America, is what our big goal is."

For now, however, they just hope that today's conversations spark a life-long awareness for everyone behind the wheel.

Sam remarked, "It's not just your life you're affecting - it's your community. It's your whole community. It's all your family, so don't be selfish, and think about others every time you head out on the road."

The bill officially establishing "Teen Driver Safety Day" was signed into law by Governor Schweitzer last April.

Three Belt High School students took their "Put Distractions On Hold" project to the state capitol several months ago, lobbying the Legislature for passage of a bill that would designate the third Tuesday in October as Montana Teen Driver Safety Day. After meeting a few bumps in the road, the bill was signed into law in April (read full text).

Sam Keaster, a Belt High senior and one of the project's principals, said, "There's been education covering driving without a seatbelt, or driving under the influence. But there's no education covering driving while being distracted, something that's equally dangerous as drunk driving."

Keaster and fellow students Jessica Anderson and Mariah Gondiero sent out informational flyers to school districts across the state. They'll discuss the issue of distracted driving with their classmates tomorrow.

- Tim McGonigal reporting for KRTV