At the 2012 American Association for Justice (AAJ) Winter Convention, more than 60 trial lawyers met to learn about efforts to end distracted driving. It was a message taken to heart. Over 750 trial lawyers have now volunteered to speak in schools across all 50 of the United States and Canada this April during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The volunteer effort will save hundreds of lives and reach a new generation of drivers who can spread the safe driving message among their peers.
The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that 28 percent of all crashes – or 1.6 million crashes – each year is caused by drivers using their handheld or hands-free cell phones and texting while driving. Research for the Pew Research Center shows that Half (52%) of cell-owning teens ages 16-17 say they have talked on a cell phone while driving, and 34% have texted while driving.
EndDD has set a goal to reach 100,000 students during National Distracted Driving Month, and thanks to the volunteer efforts of trial lawyers and others, that goal may be exceeded.
It is not too late to join the movement. Click here to sign up to be a speaker in your community or visit our action page to find the many ways you can help put an end to distracted driving.
