Terrell Hogan attorney Leslie Goller joins more than 750 lawyers nationwide to talk to high school students during “National Distracted Driving Awareness Month,” April 9-20. The firm is working with The Casey Feldman Foundation, the 60 for Safety presenters from The Injury Board and the End Distracted Driving Initiative. For information, contact Goller at [email protected] or at 632-2424.
What are you telling high-school students during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month?
Traffic accidents are the leading cause of teen deaths. Half of teens admit they text and drive. The real number is even higher. We reach them; we don’t just lecture them. They see that they’ve become hyperconnected, some say addicted. We brainstorm ways to resist and explore strategies to survive riding with a distracted driver.
What is the mission of The Casey Feldman Foundation?
It was established by a dad whose daughter was killed by a distracted driver as she walked across the street. This year’s campaign focuses on student awareness. During April, attorneys plan presentations to 100,000 high school students in all 50 states. The goal is to prevent these tragedies.
Aren’t all drivers distracted at some point?
Anything that diverts your attention has its dangers. It’s also grooming, eating, using a GPS, adjusting a radio, CD or MP3 player. The goal is to eliminate as many distractions as possible. Texting and cellphones are particularly dangerous. A cellphone call quadruples your accident risk. That’s about the same as driving drunk. Texting increases it more than 20 times. Texting averages eyes off the road for 5 seconds; at 55 mph that’s like driving the length of a football field, blind.
Are there many accidents in Northeast Florida caused by distracted driving?
The vast majority are — 80 percent of all collisions and 65 percent of near collisions involve some sort of distraction.
What is the primary message?
Focus on driving. No text or call is worth losing your life or being the cause of someone’s death.