GCHS Students Learn the Dangers of Distracted Driving

Garden City High School students got an important lesson on the dangers of distracted driving during a special presentation June 7, as part of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association's involvement with the national End Districated Driving campaign.

NYSTLA member Alan Stern said distracted driving is not just texting or using your cell phone. He highlighted past tragedies where distracted driving resulted in the loss of life and encouraged teens to commit to safe driving to prevent accidents. He urged students and their parents to spread the word.

"Texting while driving and other technological distractions result in accidents six times more likely than intoxicated driving," Stern said. "Since distracted driving is the leading cause of teenage car accidents, it is crucial that we educate our high school students."

Michael Jaffe, NYSTLA president, added, "NYSTLA members see firsthand the devastation that can result from inattentive driving and how much it would help if people focused on safety. This makes us the perfect fit to discuss these issues with others."

Jaffe said NYSTLA is taking part in the program to "give back to our community, to help make it safe and to try to prevent unnecessary and harmful accidents." 

"Educating teens about the dangers of distracted driving is one of the best ways we've come across to help make that happen," he said. "We’re trying to stop the disaster before it happens.”

A Pennsylvania trial lawyer started the campaign after his 21-year-old daughter was struck and killed by a distracted driver in 2009. Joel Feldman's campaign focuses on the stories of victims of distracted driving and is meant to engage students on improving their own driving ability.

Trial lawyer associations across the country have joined the End Distracted Driving campaign. Nearly 50,000 students across the U.S. have viewed the presentation.