Don’t Lose a Loved One before Changing the Way You Drive

“Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving.” ~ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a time when people, businesses, and organizations across the country take action to shed light on the dangerous conditions imposed by distractions while driving. One such organization is the Casey Feldman Foundation.

Casey Feldman’s last birthday was her 21st. On April 6th, she would have turned 27 years old. For those not familiar with Casey, she was struck and killed in a crosswalk by a distracted driver on July 17, 2009 while on her way to a summer job as a waitress in Ocean City, N.J. To honor the memory of their daughter, Joel and Dianne (Anderson) Feldman created The Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation and EndDD.org and its interactive presentation aimed at changing driving habits to help stop accidents and deaths caused by distracted drivers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009 more than 5,000 drivers and passengers were killed in auto accidents caused by a distracted drivers. Among the most common types of distraction are cell phone use (talking or texting), eating or drinking, talking to passengers, and using navigation systems. And, hands on the wheel, looking forward toward the road ahead, does not necessarily mean that you are driving distraction-free. Studies show that drivers looking out the windshield can miss up to 50% of what is around them when distracted by a cell phone conversation. While many motorists understand these dangers, they continue to engage in driver distractions on a daily basis.

Safety advocates embrace the implementation of tougher laws against cell phone use while operating a vehicle. While such laws can help, legislation is not the solution; we all need to take personal responsibility to prevent distracted driving. Each of us has the power to save lives. As part of National Distracted Driver awareness month, motorists in every state are encouraged to become more educated on the dangers of distracted driving and take the time to implement safer driving behaviors. As a general rule, if you cannot devote your full attention to driving because of some other activity, it’s a distraction.

The consequence of distracted driving affects everyone – victims who survived the accident, distracted drivers who have caused one, and those who have lost a loved one. The best way to end distracted driving is to educate all Americans about the dangers it poses.

Mr. Feldman admits that he has driven while distracted. It wasn’t until he lost Casey that he realized how lucky he was not to have killed another family’s child, spouse, parent, or friend. Don’t let it happen to you; take the pledge now and help put an end to distracted driving.

Casey is not forgotten; lives are being saved through her memory. Join Lawsuit Financial in sharing Casey’s story to help raise awareness and generate action against this distracted driving epidemic.  Commit to driving safer!

Mark Bello is the CEO and General Counsel of Lawsuit Financial Corporation, a pro-justice lawsuit funding company. Lawsuit Financial strongly supports all restrictions on driver distractions of any kind, actively promotes driver safety and publicly addresses the many driving distractions that exist in our daily lives. The more we educate the better chance we all have to improving our roadways.