Distracted Driving Sessions will feature Matt Logan
Driving home from school on the first day of her senior year, Deej Logan was texting and driving. Like many of us, a cell phone was Deej Logan’s constant companion. First responders found it on the floor of her minivan. When investigators unlocked the phone, they found a lengthy unsent text message and figured she was responding to a friend while driving 63 miles per hour. She never saw the bus.
She passed away at the hospital five hours after typing that message.
For her family, they are ; “Desperately trying to take a horrible tragic situation in our family and turn it into something that can be positive for others,” Matt Logan said.
The Logans don’t want anyone to endure a similar tragedy. They tell their story in schools, but the message is truly for all ages: No text, no email, no anything on a cell phone is worth dying for while driving.
Some of the Facts:
In 2008, 37% of all collisions were directly caused by distracted drivers. The largest proportion (16%) of these collisions involved young, inexperienced drivers under the age of 20. Under normal road conditions, stopping distance for being legally intoxicated increases by about 4ft. By contrast, reading an email or text message on average increases stopping distance by 36ft – and sending an email or text message increases stopping distance by an overwhelming 70ft.
In a recent study, 89% of American adults believed that texting while driving is “distracting, dangerous, and should be outlawed.”
FCCLA National Program (FACTS) Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety has these areas:
Think Smart- Promote attitudes of safety.
Buckle Up-Use seat belts, safety seats and airbags.
Arrive Alive-Promote safe driving habits.
Speak Up-Promote empowerment of teens for their own safety.
Bridge the Gap-training between teens and adults to work together to enhance traffic safety.
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