Joel Feldman, founder of EndDD.org (End Distracted Driving) spoke with 300 juniors at Great Valley High School in Malvern, PA on April 9th in connection with April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaigns nation-wide. In discussing that distracted driving is more than just texting while driving, he made it clear to the students that he believed that distracted driving is not just a teen problem. That point was confirmed when he had all the students raise their hands if their moms or dads drive distracted and nearly all the students raised their hands. He then told the students “You don’t have to drive like your moms and dads-you can choose to drive distraction-free and be positive role models for your friends, younger brothers and sisters and parents.”
Based on some of the student feedback, quoted in the West Chester Daily Local, which covereed the event, the safe driving message is getting through to teens:
“A lot of people aren’t really educated about texting and driving because they think it is normal and their parents do it,” said Samantha McGurl, …. “I have learned to not because it is really dangerous. It puts in perspective what you are actually doing when you are on the road. It is not only their lives they are putting into danger but everybody else on the road. I really understood that.”
“It was enlightening, I never really thought about the way my brother drove before. I realized he was in a car accident because of distracted driving. I realize now my dad and my mom do a lot of distracted driving. I have never really thought of it like that before. It was enlightening,” remarked Jimmy Griffiths, a junior.
Student Andrew Preston noted, “It points out how there is so much risk in doing it that a lot of people don’t really pay attention to. I am going to change a lot of things in the future. I am hoping it changes a lot of things about the way other people drive too.”
“When speaking with teens I am optimistic that we can change the way we think about distracted driving and I believe today’s teens will lead that change so that one day distracted driving, like drunk driving, will no longer be socially acceptable,” said Feldman.
Watch our PSA, “”Parents, be the driver you want your teen to be”:
