Trauma Surgeon, Robert Barraco, M.D. and attorney Joel Feldman, whose daughter, Casey was killed by a distracted driver talk about distracted driving epidemic.
Joel Feldman, a Philadelphia attorney and father of Casey Feldman, a 21 year old killed by a distracted driver, and Robert Barraco, M.D. a trauma surgeon at Allentown, PA’s Lehigh Valley Hospital were interviewed for a TV segment on distracted driving by reporter Eve Tannery of WFMZ 69.
Joel Feldman produced a public service video for the US Dept of Transportation that features his daughter’s friends and his wife. Mr Feldman produced the video hoping that by telling Casey’s story others would see firsthand the senseless tragedy of distracted driving and the toll that it is taking and change their driving habits.
Mr. Feldman and Casey’s friends all drove while distracted before Casey’s death but have now made driving a priority and eliminated “multi-tasking.” “Driving is the single most potentially dangerous thing that each of us does on a daily basis, ” said Feldman. “But we have become so comfortable in our cars we ignore the risks of driving while distracted.
Feldman advises that all the drivers who have killed others while driving distracted thought they would never hurt someone just like we think each time we eat in the car, dial a cell phone or reach for something in the back seat, it is a harmless act. The video puts those seemingly innocent actions in perspective and has received a tremendous response. The video is being played in schools and Feldman receives e-mails from those who have watched it and changed the way they drive as a result.
Dr. Barraco talked about what he sees when victims are brought to him in the operating room. He also cited statistics about the dangers of distracted driving, particularly for young people when they have multiple passengers in their cars. He and his colleagues at Lehigh Valley Hospital have conducted studies at local high schools that prove that with the proper intervention students will drastically reduce distracted driving behaviors.
You can view the WFMZ segment here.
