If you’ve listened to the radio lately, you’ve heard a variety of anti-distracted driving messages, including “It Can Wait” and “Drop It And Drive” both geared to raise awareness about distracted driving and reduce injuries and fatalities associated with car accidents caused by distracted driving.
(DIAD)’s goal is to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving with a solution-focused, reality-based approach. They provide safety programs for elementary schools and speaking to high school students provides the opportunity to positively impact the next generation of drivers to help reduce injuries and fatalities from car accidents.
Their motto–”If the driver is distracted it’s not an accident….it’s a crash”
I cannot tell you how often I see this in my line of work. Specifically, I represent seriously injured victims of car and truck accidents. Invariable, inattention is the number one cause of auto accidents. “Inattention” can include daydreaming, talking on the phone, putting on makeup, dealing with other passengers and distracted driving. Distracted driving has come to be known as a driver engaged on their smart phone or hand held device or pad instead of paying attention to the road. In our world of multi-tasking, many of us think that we can return a text or two and still drive safely. But the average text takes 5 seconds to read and then additional time to respond. In five seconds at 55 mph, you can travel the length of a football field. Imagine, not paying attention for the length of a football field!
Drop It And Drive
Drop It And Drive is a Canadian grass roots organization that has presented to approximately 20,000 students, faculty and corporations throughout British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario since they launched in 2010. DIAD partnered with Surrey Fire Service & Surrey RCMP to create an no-fee school program to reach students as young as five years old through high school and post secondary schools. Their presentations use “Stories and Science over Statistics” and has shown to be effective in changing driver behaviors and beliefs.
It Can Wait
AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and a number of other businesses launched a campaign called “It Can Wait”. Like DIAD, it raises awareness for drivers that no matter how important a text message is or an email on your phone while driving, IT CAN WAIT until you are not driving. Interesting, I was talking with another dad just a few weeks ago and he told me that he and his 16 year old daughter were in the car when he got a text. He was driving and it was a short text asking when he and his daughter would be arriving. He went to answer it and his daughter said, “Seriously Dad? It can wait”. He stopped and realized he was not setting a very good example for his daughter when she was correcting him. Thus, he said, he puts his phone in the glove box now and will not answer it unless it rings repeatedly and then he pulls over.
The Pledge
The It Can Wait campaign urges drivers to take a Pledge that they will never text and drive as well as they share videos, stories and ways for everyone to get involved. If you haven’t considered taking the pledge, I would encourage you to do so!
Safety/Awareness Promoted Through Schools
Interesting, I was talking with another dad just a few weeks ago and he told me that he and his 16 year old daughter were in the car when he got a text. He was driving and it was a short text asking when he and his daughter would be arriving. He went to answer it and his daughter said, “Seriously Dad? It can wait”. He stopped and realized he was not setting a very good example for his daughter when she was correcting him. Thus, he said, he puts his phone in the glove box now and will not answer it unless it rings repeatedly and then he pulls over. Through my friend’s story, it is not hard to figure out where his daughter’s message came from—her school had been doing a lot of distracted driving seminars and education. She was not a licensed driver, but the message had come through loud and clear. When our kids are correcting us as parents, then we do pay attention since it’s such a shock to have our own child make chide us on safety!
MADD and SADD have been regular organizations within the public schools promoting awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving. We support these groups who are working to raise the awareness of distracted driving and the dangers of drunk driving to our young people. When you think teens are not listening, sometimes they really are!
If you have been the victim of a motor vehicle accident and think there may have been distracted driving involved, then you may need legal representation. At The Cagle Law Firm, we are car accident expert personal injury attorneys and we can help you through accident investigation, witnesses statements and filing a claim whether it is personal injury or wrongful death. We encourage everyone to Put Down Their Phones while driving and we know it is tempting to text and drive. If you have ever texted and driven, you know that a few seconds of not paying attention can result in a serious, life changing accident. Call 1(800) 685-3302 or (314) 276-1681 for your free consultation today.
