During the month of April, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning wants to make students aware of the importance of teen drivers keeping their hands free and on the wheel.
Technology allows us to make phone calls, dictate texts or emails and update social media while driving – all actions that are proven to increase crash risk. The National Safety Council observes April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month to draw attention to this epidemic. The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. 1,064 of those being in Michigan alone.
Sydnee Williams had dreams of becoming a cosmetologist, a wife and mother. Sadly Sydnee's dreams all died on October 20th, 2013. After she lost control of her car while texting and driving. Sydnee was not wearing her seat belt, causing her to be ejected from the vehicle and inflicting fatal head trauma.
Every bit of hope was lost when doctors told Sydnee’s family and friends, “We are going to take it slowly, but where she was hit it’s very unlikely we can do anything for her.” Sydnee died a few days later. Her friend Joe who was a passenger in the vehicle at the time, walked away with no injuries. Vicky the other passenger however was not quite as lucky. She broke her arm and neck in the crash. Now she has to go to physical therapy and speech therapy for her injuries.
“This would have all been preventable if she would have just stayed off her phone till she got home.” Said Sydnee’s mother Sara Williams.
In a split second you could ruin your future, injure or kill others, and tear a hole in the hearts of everyone who loves you.
So remember Sydnee next time you get behind the wheel. Do you really want to risk your life for one text or call?
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