Making Our Community Safer

Did you know that April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month?  Do you drive distracted?

I know that I did and I know that many people still do.  Driving distracted does not just include driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol – it includes anything that will take your focus off the road.  When you are driving you are responsible for controlling a 2,000 lbs weapon that can kill on contact.  Many of us cannot walk and text, much less drive and text or talk on our cell phone. 

Driving while talking on the cell phone is equal to about four alcoholic drinks; texting while driving is equal to having eight alcoholic drinks.  If you text while driving the average person will look away from the road and at their phone for 4.6 seconds.  Should you being going 55mph that means you will travel 100 yards (the length of a football field) before you look back at the road.  Is that text or phone call really worth your life or the life of a passenger?  Is it really worth killing someone and being found criminally guilty and/or civilly liable?

Last week, I spoke with the students at Carver’s Bay High School to discuss with them about the dangerous of all kinds of distracted driving prior to their prom.  They took a pledge to focus on their driving – are you willing to do the same?  Are you willing to be a role model for your children and the people around you?

Over 5,000 people a year die while texting and talking on their phone while driving.  Over 1000 trial lawyers are making presentations across this country during the month of April to try to eliminate this problem.  Please help me make sure none of those deaths occur in Georgetown County.

Tonight I am going to speak with Georgetown County Council regarding distracted driving, so please come out to the county council meeting to learn what we can all do to make our community safer.  This campaign is not about me it is about this community and what we can do to make it a better place to live.