EndDD.org Distracted Driving Initiatives

EndDD.org is a project of the Casey Feldman Foundation. Casey was walking in a crosswalk and was killed by a 58 year old distracted driver who took his eyes off the road to reach for an object and went through a stop sign. EndDD.org was founded by Joel Feldman, Casey’s father and Dianne Anderson, Casey’s mother. Joel has been a trial attorney in Philadelphia for more than 30 years and has a master’s in counseling and has given presentations across the country about distracted driving.

1. Distracted Driving Presentation
Observing that there were a variety of distracted driving educational programs existing with little or no science to support their effectiveness EndDD.org worked with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Injury Research and Prevention to create a distracted driving presentation integrating health communication, behavior science and behavior change theory and teen targeted persuasion principles. The presentation was designed not to create resistance and does not contain overly graphic or gory videos to avoid unanticipated boomerang effects. It is regularly updated and pre and post presentation surveys have demonstrated statistically significant changes with respect to teen’s confidence and willingness to speak with friends and parents about distracted driving. A White Paper summarizing the findings will be published by Children’s Hospital in the spring of 2014. The presentation is easily adaptable and has been used by law enforcement, health care, driver’s education, and safety professionals and lawyers and has been given to about 125,000 teens and adults across the country. The presentation and script is made available without cost upon request.

2. Bystander Intervention Program:
Over 90% of teens attending EndDD.org presentations report that they are routinely driven distracted by their moms and dads and friends. But many of the teens won’t speak up and ask mom or dad, or friends, to drive safer. A bystander intervention program was developed that teaches non-confrontational communication skills using role play scenarios, peer evaluations and feedback. Passengers learn that they have a shared responsibility with the driver for arriving safely.

3. Targeting Parents:
Parents must be better role models for their children. Parents are teaching their children that it is ok to text, make phone calls, eat, apply make-up or do a number of secondary tasks while driving. Programs designed toward asking parents to reflect on what they have been teaching their children were developed, including parent specific PSA’s.

4. Distracted Driving Videos/PSA’s:
EndDD.org uses videos and PSA’s produced by others and also produces its own. Videos/PSA’s used in EndDD.org presentations can be seen at http:// enddd.org/psa/

5. High School Mock Jury Distracted Driving Problem:
Using distracted driving problem for established high school mock jury trial programs with lawyer and judge mentors with distracted driving awareness campaigns.

6. Education or Ticket:
Motorists ticketed for distracted driving can avoid fines/points by participating in an on-line distracted driving program.