One Poor Decision by Driver Distraction in a Car Accident - Devastating Consequences
Posted by
Jeff WeinsteinApril 28, 2012 9:09 AM
After speaking with close to 15000 teenage drivers over the last two years, I'm truly concerned with their ability to understand the consequences of a car accident. At least 20% of the teens have already either caused a collision or been involved in an automobile accident. Perhaps they believe since they have already been in an accident that there is no way they can be harmed - the I can survive any collision mentality.
I tried something new yesterday at the Athens High School 9th grade Distracted Driving Presentation. I called upon one of the students that I saw as a distraction in the audience to be the 9th grade monitor. I recruited him to make sure that his fellow class mates did not use a cell phone and drive. Whether it will work or not I don't know and we will not know for at least a couple of years. I do think that those who disrupt the presentation probably are the greatest danger to their communities.
While there are always a few rowdy kids in the presentations, the great majority seem very interested in discussing something they know is a problem for them - cell phone addiction. Of course, they don't call it an addiction. Certainly cavemen had these things so it is not a big deal to spend all day communicating with people by cell phone. My question: Do they understand that one poor decision can have such devastating consequences. I don't know that they do. I think they see it is possible but I don't think they believe it can happen to them.
I'm going to revise my presentation and along with begging for no use of cell phones while driving I think I will also start hammering home a One Poor Decision theme. Why should one poor decision cause so much tragedy? One poor decision is not worth the consequences.
In the video I show, a member of Focus Driven says: "I would not want to cause this much hurt to someone I love or someone I didn't know." One poor decision and the outcome is causing tremendous harm for something so selfish and senseless.
Drive Safe - X THA TXT
Say NO to Distracted Driving
Jeff Weinstein, Dallas injury lawyer