Deadly Rohnert Park Accident Helps Propel Distracted Driving Legislation

Lawmakers and policy groups nationwide are taking aim at drivers who are using cell phones behind the wheel. They've launched a new campaign, dubbed "Stop the Texts; Stop the Wrecks" — a story that's continuing to gain momentum here. 

Watch the PSA on distracted driving to the right.

Even more than a year later, the tragic Dec. 1, 2010 killing of 2-year-old Calli Murray has residents throughout Sonoma County spreading the word about how dangerous texting or talking on the phone while driving can be. 

Sonoma State student Kaitlyn Dunaway, who ran over Calli and her mother Ling, 42, in a crosswalk near Sunrise Park, will begin her community service this spring — talking to schools and community groups about the dangers of distracted driving. That's mandated by the courts; but area residents are also taking it into their own hands — helping to get the word out through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

In light of the storm of media coverage that still centers around this debate, Rohnert Park Patch wanted to give readers a resource to find past articles and reports easily. We've created a "topics page" on distracted driving. So if you're just starting to follow this story, or pay attention to the dangers of using a cell phone behind the wheel, we invite you to log on and check out our library of coverage dating back to December 2010. We've published dozens of articles, and alerted readers to reports by other media outlets on this life-or-death issue. The conversation ignited here, at least regionally, so let's keep it going. 

Have questions, concerns or comments about distracted driving? Have a story you want to share about your experience with cell phones and driving? Tell us in the comments or send your thoughts to angela.hart@patch.com. I'm here to listen. 

Meanwhile, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has teamed up with the Ad Council and the State Attorneys General to spread the word thorugh their new campaign. 

They're targeting teens, largely because of a study published in 2011 reported that 84 percent of teens were aware of the dangers of distracted driving. Yet it found that four out of five are still using their phones behind the wheel.

The campaign calls teen drivers and cell phones a "recipe for tragedy." 

"Distracted drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash, but teen drivers are already four times more likely than adult drivers to be involved in a crash," the report found.

Editor's note: Rohnert Park Patch is publishing the full text of the Sonoma County Probation Department's report on the Murray case, complete with letters from persons impacted by the Murray accident. Find it attached in full, as a PDF to the right. View all related information on our new topics page: rohnertpark.patch.com/distracted+driving.

Learn more about the campaign, "Stop the Texts; Stop the Wrecks" here. Find more resources from Distraction.gov on how to talk to teens, personal stories and data, here.