A new video on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) website created by Springfield, Pa. resident Joel Feldman -- whose 21-year old daughter Casey was struck and killed in N.J. in 2009 by a driver who took his eyes off the road for seconds to grab an iced tea -- is a powerful, tragic example of how distracted driving is more than just texting.
The video, including testimonials from Casey’s mother and her friends talking about how they drove distracted -- and have since changed their habits after the death of the 21-year old -- is the first produced by a member of the public in the DOT’s series on distracted driving.
In communities where there has been a traffic tragedy, another program has been developed to help young drivers. They are urged to take their feelings of sadness and helplessness and focus them on developing programs to remember their classmate and to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. Supported by the National Highway Traffic Administration ( NHTSA) and the National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS), with the sponsorship of the Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation, there are cash prizes for winning student entries.
CAPS urges you to educate yourself and your children about driving safely and to follow the guidelines, because the consequences of failing to do so can be life-altering for you and others.