Students at Leo Hayes High School are taking part in a national campaign directed at teens to stop driving while distracted. CBC

Fredericton has joined Toronto as a launching pad for a new campaign against distracted driving aimed at high school students and designed by them.

Students at Leo Hayes High School are putting their own answers to the question 'Is it worth it?'

That's the slogan chosen by students working with a national charity called SMARTRISK.

The students are being asked to write their own meaning of why distracted driving — such as texting on a cellphone — isn't worth it.

Pictures of the students holding up their messages will be made into a collage and posted online.

"I wrote that distracted driving is a killer and I wrote that because I had a friend who actually died not long ago from texting and driving," said Grade 12 student Rachel Kish.

"And I've had several other friends who've been in accidents and stuff and I think everybody just needs to smarten up and stop."

Student organizer Sarah Moore said the question — is it worth it? — is a good one.

"Is the distraction worth what could possibly happen? Like, is sending that one text worth a life? That's kind of what we're trying to get people to think about," Moore said.

Organizers hope social media will help spread the message that it's not worth risking a life for a text message while driving.

Teacher Shawn Beardsley said students went to Toronto to develop a campaign with a media company, thanks to a $60,000 grant from the State Farm insurance company.

"Kids talk to kids, peers to peers, and start to generate a buzz," said Beardsley. ''Hearing it from adults is one thing. And they get that enough at home. Hearing it from each other, we find, is a lot more effective."

Students at 100 participating schools across the country will be invited to submit entries for a multimedia campaign on distracted driving.

Then they'll vote online for a winner that will be turned into a national campaign.