Distracted Driving Campaign Comes to Illinois and Missouri

As the Campaign for distracted driving comes to Illinois and Missouri, hundreds of lawyers, judges, and traffic safety professionals stay committed to making a difference by giving presentations across the United States and Canada during the month of April 2012.

EndDD is an organization that is sponsored by the Casey Feldman Foundation and is proactive in their education and advocacy against distracted driving. It was founded by Joel Feldman after his daughter was struck by a distracted driver in July 2009 and died several hours later. They are dedicated to raising the public’s awareness.

60 for Safety have joined forces with EndDD to support their mission by encouraging others to set up presentations at schools, community groups, and at other affairs where such information would be beneficial. Their quest is to end the carelessness, and prevent the suffering that families and friends experience when they lose a loved one. As a result, people of all ages in the communities are pledging to change how they drive.

Once we get behind the wheel of a car, it is only fair to ourselves and others on the road, that we do so in a responsible manner. There are so many things that can occur that could take your attention away. It only takes a split second of being distracted to cause a car accident or tragedy, resulting in a life time of turmoil.

Though texting while driving and cell phone usage are at the top of the list of distractions, just about anything that causes you to take your eyes or mind off the road is a distraction. There is no end to the list of distractions, but minimizing them can actually save lives.

There is no excuse for texting while driving. There is no message that cannot wait until you have a safe moment. How many times has something rolled off the passenger’s seat, and you instinctively reach over to stop it from hitting the floor? Applying make-up is another common distraction and should be done prior to driving; even looking away to grab your coffee from the console or pushing the buttons to change the music can be done dangerous and should be done at a stop light. If you’re reading directions or a map, pull over.

The official government website for distracted driving has stated, “A dangerous epidemic on America's roadways. In 2010 alone, over 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving crashes.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation has also launched many campaigns for awareness programs, and is encouraging states to have heavier penalties for such violations and is pushing for banning the use of cell phones while driving all together.

Lindsay Rakers, Injury Attorney