April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. To raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, West Chester University’s Phi Sigma Pi, a national honor’s fraternity, held its second annual Casey Feldman Memorial Benefit Concert on Saturday April 9, 2011.Casey Feldman, from Delaware County, PA, was a 21 year old college student killed by a distracted driver in July of 2009. Her friends and family created a public service video to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving that is part of the Secretary of the US Dept of Transportation, Ray LaHood’s, Faces of Distracted driving website. Through the video and other projects Casey has become a national symbol of the toll of distracted driving. Here is a link to the 3 minute video:
http://fastlane.dot.gov/2011/02/faces-of-distracted-driving-casey-feldman-21-listen-to-caseys-story-share-it-and-commit-to-driving-s.html
Casey Feldman’s parents, Dianne Anderson and Joel Feldman ,spoke at the event and told of how the loss of their daughter has affected all aspects of their lives. They explained why it was so important for them that Casey be remembered and that other lives be saved from distracted driving through the efforts of friends and family. The 3 minute public service video created by family and friends for the US Dept of Transportation website, Faces of Distracted Driving ,was played at the event. Pennsylvania’s “failing grade” for enacting legislation to protect its citizens from the dangers of distracted driving was highlighted. Pennsylvania is 1 of only 7 states that have not enacted distracted driving legislation. The attendees voiced overwhelming support for legislation currently pending in Harrisburg that would ban texting entirely while driving and limit cell phone use to hands free devices only. The legislation would also ban all cell phone use for those 18 and under and limit the number of non-related passengers a driver 18 and under could have in the car. Accident statistics clearly demonstrate these measures, if enacted, would save lives and particularly so for our younger drivers. Many of the attendees signed pledges to drive safer and said they would also work individually to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.
Proceeds raised from the benefit concert will be given to NOYS( National Organization for Youth Safety) for its project in collaboration with NHTSA(National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration) and The Casey Feldman Foundation, “Youth Turn”. The project provides financial support for students who, following a traffic tragedy in their community, take action to educate the public about highway safety in an effort to prevent future tragedies. Here is a link for project details: http://noys.org.
