Monday, April 30, 2012

April 30--Distracted Driving Awareness Month




On March 19, 2011, our beloved Gayla was taken from this world by a distracted driver. This video is our family's face of distracted driving. For the rest of my life, I will be an advocate for distraction-free driving.

Sister was born in 1972, the first child to Brenda and James. Gayla was the celebration of their love. She was the guinea pig baby in that they learned to parent with Gayla. My Brother JamesII and I would learn what not to do by watching her test the waters of growing up. Sister mostly taught us all what it meant to loved whole heartily.

Saturday, March 19, 2011, was a beautiful sunny day. Our family was awaiting the arrival of our newest member, William. My little family had spent the week in Hooks as part of Spring Break and William-Watch. Gayla had had to travel for work, and because she wanted to be there when William made his debut, she had decided to stay at her house in Rhome and come down once his mother was in labor.

To treat herself and to enjoy the beginning of spring, Sister was headed out that afternoon to eat at Waffle House and then get a pedicure. There were two possible paths Gayla could have taken for her mini-venture, up 114 past the Texas Motor Speedway or up 287 to Fort Worth. Because there was a classic car show at TMS that day, Gayla chose the other path to avoid traffic. The irony in that statement hurts my heart. Sister was sitting in traffic not moving more than 10 mph at a stop and go pace when she was hit from behind and her car was sent across the median to finally crash into a wire guard rail. The tractor trailer driver said he was down-shifting instead of breaking and his truck fell out of gear. He looked down to put the truck back in gear and when he looked up, he had no time to break before he rear-ended Gayla's car. It has since been uncovered that there were more distractions going on than a missed gear.

Gayla was killed instantly when her neck was broken by the impact. She did not suffer. However, the suffering was left for her family and friends.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

April 29, 2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month

On February 23, 2010, 19-year-old Heather Lerch was killed when she lost control of her car and crashed through a guardrail on her way home from work. She was speeding and texting at the time of the crash.

To honor their daughter's memory, Dan and Wendy Lerch produced this video with the Washington State Department of Licensing and submitted it for inclusion in the U.S. Department of Transportation's "Faces of Distracted Driving" series.

For more information, please visit www.distraction.gov. To share your distracted driving story, email faces@distraction.gov.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

April 28, 2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month

On January 3, 2008, Heather Hurd and her fiancée were scheduled to meet her parents at their wedding planner's office in Orlando, Florida. On the way there, a tractor-trailer traveling at 65 miles per hour hit their car -- and eight others -- while they were stopped at a red light. The truck driver, who was texting with his company at the time of the crash, never applied his brakes. Heather died at the scene.

In memory of their daughter, Russell and Kim Hurd have become outspoken advocates against distracted driving. They successfully lobbied for the passage of "Heather's Law" in 2009, which prohibits drivers in their home state of Maryland from texting behind the wheel.

For more information, please visit www.distraction.gov. To share your story, email faces@distraction.gov.

Friday, April 27, 2012

April 27, 2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month

At 19 years old, Brittanie Montgomery was a member of the Hornets Honeybees dance team and studied childhood development as a sophomore at the University of Central Oklahoma. On December 21, 2006, she was killed when she lost control of her vehicle, crossed four lanes of traffic, and was struck by an oncoming car. She was talking on her cell phone with a friend at the time of the crash.

Brittanie's mother, Gina Harris, is now an advocate against distracted driving.

For more information, please visit www.distraction.gov. To share your story, email faces@distraction.gov.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

April 26, 2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month

On April 15, 2009, 58-year-old Julie Davis set off for a hike with her best friend in Rudolph, Wisconsin. As they were walking beside the road, a 19-year-old driving at 70MPH struck Julie from behind, killing her instantly. Crash reconstruction reports showed the driver could not have been looking at the road for 8.75 seconds. She was cited for inattentive driving and fined $173.40.

Laurie Hevier, Julie's daughter, is now an advocate against distracted driving.

For more information, please visit www.distraction.gov. To share your story, upload a video to YouTube and email the link to faces@distraction.gov.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

April 25, 2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month

On May 10, 2010, 16-year-old Ashley Johnson was killed when she lost control of her vehicle, crossed the center line, and hit a pickup truck head-on. Although her father had warned her against cell phone use behind the wheel, she was texting at the time of the crash.

Amos Johnson, Ashley's father, now speaks to local teens about the dangers of distracted driving.

For more information, please visit www.distraction.gov. To share your story, upload a video to YouTube and email the link to faces@distraction.gov.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

April 24, 2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month



On January 19, 2004, Judy Teater and her 12-year-old son Joe were driving to an after school activity when a young woman behind the wheel of a Hummer and talking on her cell phone ran a red light and slammed into their vehicle. Joe died the next day from his injuries.

Judy is now an advocate against distracted driving.

For more information, please visit www.distraction.gov. To share your story, upload a video to YouTube and email the link to faces@distraction.gov.

Monday, April 23, 2012

April 23,2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month



On May 30, 2007, 16-year-old Cady Reynolds was driving her best friend home from a movie near Omaha, NE when another teen driver--who was severely distracted behind the wheel--ran a red light and slammed into her car at 50MPH. Cady was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries and died the next day.

Emily Reynolds, Cady's 17-year-old sister, is now an advocate against distracted driving and is an active member of NOYS, the National Organizations for Youth Safety.

For more information, please visit www.distraction.gov. To share your story, upload a video to YouTube and email the link to faces@distraction.gov.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Monday, April 16, 2012

April 16, 2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month



Recklessness killed this beautiful nine-year-old. My heart breaks for this Mama as much as it breaks for my own.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

April 12--Distracted Driving Awareness Month



The faces of distracted driving...Eric was 19 and on his way to great things. Now his legacy is be the example of why texting, "a willful act", while driving is unacceptable. His family not only suffers but the other teen who killed him will suffer from here on out as well.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Monday, April 9, 2012

April 9, 2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month

It's the Zombie Apocalypse! I absolutely love these videos from the California Office of Traffic Safety! Don't be a Zombie...It's not worth it!

Glam Zombie

Sunday, April 8, 2012

April 8, 2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month

It's the Zombie Apocalypse! I absolutely love these videos from the California Office of Traffic Safety! Don't be a Zombie...It's not worth it!

Party Zombies

Saturday, April 7, 2012

April 7, 2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month

It's the Zombie Apocalypse! I absolutely love these videos from the California Office of Traffic Safety! Don't be a Zombie...It's not worth it!
Grubbin Zombie

Friday, April 6, 2012

April 6, 2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month

It's the Zombie Apocalypse! I absolutely love these videos from the California Office of Traffic Safety! Don't be a Zombie...It's not worth it!

Mobile Zombie

Thursday, April 5, 2012

April 5, 2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month

It's the Zombie Apocalypse! I absolutely love these videos from the California Office of Traffic Safety! Don't be a Zombie...It's not worth it!


Day Dreaming Zombie

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

April 4, 2012--Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Using a cell phone while driving, whether it's handheld or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (2009, University of Utah)

Would you believe that alcohol inhibited driving laws didn't come about until the 1980's? Since automobiles originated in the early 1900's and alcohol has been around since before Jesus was a boy, that makes me a little discouraged that it could be almost 100 years before our legislature gets on board with regulating the use of cell phones while driving (and we SHOULD have flying, self-operated cars by then, right!). This is why education is so very important!

I am encouraged by individual industries creating standards with regard to distracted driving. Check out what the US Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has to say about the use of cellular phones in 18-wheelers and such.

FMCSA and PHMSA are amending the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to restrict the use of hand-held mobile telephones by drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). This rulemaking will improve safety on the Nation's highways by reducing the prevalence of distracted driving-related crashes, fatalities, and injuries involving drivers of CMVs. The Agencies also amend their regulations to implement new driver disqualification sanctions for drivers of CMVs who fail to comply with this Federal restriction and new driver disqualification sanctions for commercial driver's license (CDL) holders who have multiple convictions for violating a State or local law or ordinance on motor vehicle traffic control that restricts the use of hand-held mobile telephones. Additionally, motor carriers are prohibited from requiring or allowing drivers of CMVs to use hand-held mobile telephones.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

April 3--Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Do you have a DT? I do! Darling Daughter is my DESIGNATED TEXTER. As co-pilot, she takes care of any cell phone business while I navigate us to our destination.


Check out this article on TXDOT's campaign for Distracted Driving Awareness Month.


Monday, April 2, 2012

April 2--Distracted Driving Awareness Month

I've bought a ton of green ribbon and pins to hand out for Distracted Driving Awareness Month. I am also making green awareness wrap bracelets. Make the pledge to drive distraction free.
I pledge to drive distraction-free, with the goal to permanently reduce my distracted driving habits. I will spread the word about driving distraction-free among my family and friends encouraging them to resist distracting behaviors while driving.