Skip to main content

Distracted Driving Video Series a Chilling Reminder

The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched the Distracted Driving Videos series, which is a chilling reminder of how one second of driver distraction can have life-altering consequences. The new online video series features people from across the country who have been injured or lost loved ones to distracted driving. The government is launching the series with three videos, and will add a new one every few weeks.

Personal Pain Recalled in Distracted Driving Videos

U.S. Dept. of Transportation Ray LaHood wrote in his blog about the series. He related statistics about distracted driving: "Just last year, nearly 5,500 people were killed and 500,000 more were injured in distracted driving-related crashes."

The statistics alone don't tell the tale. It's the personal stories. LaHood related three:

  • 13-year-old Margay Schee, who boarded her school bus and never made it back home.
  • 58-year-old Julie Davis, who never got to meet her 14th grandchild.
  • 16-year-old Ashley Johnson, whose dream of becoming a psychiatrist will never come true.

One compelling video tells the story of Davis, an active grandmother who was out walking with a friend when she was struck and killed instantly by a 19-year old distracted driver. Laurie Hevier, her daughter, tearfully retold the story and had this to say, "Even if you ignore all the statistics and the risks are low, the consequences are huge. I wouldn't want to be responsible for causing this amount of pain to someone I loved or to someone else who has people who love them. It's not worth. It's not worth it at all. Distractved driving kills. Safe driving starts with you."

You can see all of the distracted driving videos at Distraction.gov. A lot of information about the distracted driving campaign is available there, too, if you want to discuss the issue with young drivers.

The Department of Transportation is inviting submissions for the series. People are invited to share their stories by posting their own videos on YouTube and emailing a link to [email protected].

Automotive News