VALENTINE, Neb. -- Your phone dings while you’re driving. You pick it up, and notice that you have a new text message. You reply back.

It’s something that many Americans do on a regular basis, but according to the latest statistics from the Nebraska Department of Transportation, distracted driving played a role in almost 4,000 car crashes in 2020, including 19 deaths.

A group of Valentine High School students is using technology to try to prevent future deaths.

“You hear about distracted driving crashes almost daily,” teacher Danielle Arganbright said.

That’s why Arganbright, who teaches broadcasting and digital media, fully embraced her students’ idea to create a PSA focused on texting behind the wheel.

Senior Kinsey Buechle and a couple of her friends spent hours figuring out how to best inform others about the danger.

“It’s just scary these days,” Buechle said. "I mean there’s multiple crashes that I’ve heard of."

Their effort is now being awarded. The PSA has made the top eight for NSAA State Journalism. The group is headed to state this month.

“Around 800 different things get sent in across the state in all classes in Nebraska,” Arganbright said. "They only take the top eight."

“I was pretty surprised,” Buechle said. "I ran out and told my mom that we made top eight, so I was pretty excited."

No matter the result, Arganbright said the biggest award will be hopefully preventing students from texting behind the wheel.

“They’re like my own kid,” Arganbright said. "I know a lot of these kids and their families. I’ve watched them grow up. Every single kid that passes through my door takes a piece of my heart."

You can take a look at all eight of the state-qualifying PSAs here.