By Kristin Pettway, Senior Project Manager at DRIVE SMART Virginia When I accepted a job at DRIVE SMART Virginia a decade ago, one of the first things I thought about was how driving affects everyone. Whether you are a driver yourself, a passenger of a vehicle, a commuter on public buses, a bicyclist, or even … Continue reading →
Mindy Schulz’s five month old son, Tristan, was killed by a distracted driver. Since then, Mindy has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the devastation distracted driving can cause and to encourage the Virginia General Assembly to pass a hand-held phone ban. The following are remarks shared by Mindy at a press conference on December … Continue reading →
Patty Kruszewski lost her daughter Lanie eight years ago due to a driver who was texting. Since then, she has honored Lanie’s memory by sharing her story with many. We are in awe of her strength and appreciate her commitment to safer roadways. The Promise of the Season As I left Richmond City … Continue reading →
This is the first in a series of guest blog posts. By Alex Epstein Thanksgiving is almost here and you can practically smell it, made warmer and richer by the anticipation of gathering together with loved ones. We get to celebrate and hopefully enjoy a brief rest before the long weekend is over and we … Continue reading →
Kyle Rowley was killed by a distracted and texting driver in May, 2011 not far from his home in Fairfax County. He was 19 years old. Kyle returned home from his freshman year of college, got a job cooking at the Red Robin, and was dead a week and a half later. He was a … Continue reading →
This is the second in a series of blog posts written by people who have had their lives turned upside-down by a distracted driver. Christina Dempsey tells of three lives lost in one instant: On August 27, 2013, my sister’s boyfriend Mike, his son Michael, my sister Bethany, my niece Lauren, and soon-to-be niece Abby, … Continue reading →
This award-winning essay was written by Breonna Hughes. Breonna’s father, Brad Hughes, speaks to corporate, school, and military groups about the dangers of distracted driving. He is one of DRIVE SMART Virginia’s most dedicated volunteers. Brad asks that you sign our petition urging the General Assembly to Make Virginia Drivers Put Down the Phone. At 16, … Continue reading →
Robert L. Sumwalt has been a member of the NTSB since 2006 and has been a fierce advocate for improving safety in all modes of transportation, including teen driver safety, impaired driving, distractions in transportation, and several rail safety initiatives. Sumwalt will deliver a keynote address for the 2014 Virginia Distracted Driving Summit on September … Continue reading →
Cpl. Rebecca Ellison of the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department recently stopped a woman near the school’s medical campus for traveling the wrong way on a one-way street. Ellison immediately noted that the driver had a cell phone in her hand — and knew exactly what to say. “If you put that phone down, you … Continue reading →
Every day in this county, an average of nine people die in traffic crashes where the proximate cause was driver distraction, usually a distraction from technology. That’s nine families per day who will never again celebrate their loved one’s birthday, enjoy Christmas morning together or simply receive a daily hug. It’s easy to talk about … Continue reading →