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Elba students hear survivor of horrific crash talk about drivers distracted by cell phones

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Today, cell phone distracted driving survivor advocate Jacy Good spoke at Elba High School to help students understand the consequences of using cell phones behind the wheel.

In May 2008, on the day she graduated from college, a driver distracted by his cell phone conversation ran a red light and caused a crash that killed both of Good’s parents and left her clinging to life.

“Jacy’s story is powerful and moves both students and faculty,” said Chris Salinas, principal at Elba. “It is especially important for teens to hear Jacy’s message. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and using cell phones increases crash risk. Jacy’s story helps students understand that they will be safer if they disconnect while driving.”

“My college graduation day should have been a time to celebrate,” Good said. “Instead, my entire world was shattered because of an unnecessary cell phone call. People need to understand the dangers of using a cell phone ­– handheld or hands free – while driving. Lives are at risk and poor decisions can have lifelong consequences.”

After the loss of her parents, Good joined FocusDriven – Advocates for Cell-Free Driving. FocusDriven is a survivor advocate network that supports cell phone distracted driving victims and their families. Individuals and families educate the public by sharing their personal stories. The New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee works with FocusDriven to provide Good’s presentations in schools across the state.

Those interested in having Good speak at their school should e-mail srotoolkit@dmv.ny.gov <mailto:srotoolkit@dmv.ny.gov>

Additional traffic safety information can be found at: www.safeny.ny.gov/SRO-Toolkit <http://www.safeny.ny.gov/SRO-Toolkit>

John Simmons

IMHO, the state & federal governments should ban the use of a cellphone in ALL moving vehicles by anyone in the vehicle & especially for everyone that is driving at the time.. Then also include EMT, Police & Fireman & anyone else that is now exempted from that unconstitutional law... IF you are distracted by a cellphone conversation & crash into someone & kill or maim them, you should be charged with Reckless Endangerment, & Assault with intent to cause bodily harm, AND/OR 1st degree Pre-medicated MURDER if the other people in the vehicle you hit dies & charge people between $8,000.00 to upwards of $10,000.00 for each & any infraction at all, & a mandatory 30 year revocation of their license to drive upon conviction anywhere in the USA and their [pocessions! Make the consequences so high that it will hurt them in their bank accounts & that might be the only way to make this happen... I never talk on my phone when I am driving because nothing is more important to me than life itself & I would really hate myself if I was the cause of anyone injured or killed because of me doing something stupid, BUT a lot of you really don't give a damn because you have an airbag that would keep you alive & that might be a good thing because then your bank accounts would be depleted & you being a convicted felon would not be able to receive any welfare payments or VOTE in any erections & not be allowed to carry a gun let alone own one (And you would not be able to defend yourself from the relatives of the people that you killed, when they come for their revenge LOL) or collect your social security payments later on in your miserable life when you are behind bars!!

Oct 16, 2013, 2:18pm Permalink
Michelle WIlliams

John a bit drastic but I agree. I was the victim of a distracted driver in 2007. The impact broke my lower lumbar spine and leaving me to fight for the last 6 years to walk again. I spent roughly 11 months in a wheelchair and have a spinal cord injury. The woman that hit me had inadequate insurance to cover my expenses and could not explain why she did not see me when she sideswiped my car almost flipping it. She walked away with a single ticket of reckless driving and from what I was told the ticket is pled down to a $35 charge. I was left filing bankruptcy and having to go on disability. I did not get a settlement. As a matter of fact my medical bills from her carelessness were close to $200,000. I lost my new car, my new condo, my credit and the career that I spent over 10 years building. Thankfully there was a program here in NY that is helping me to get my A.A.S. in Business Adminstration without the burden of student loans. The program helps workers like myself who are unable to earn a living at their prior career (I was a motorcycle mechanic, builder, designer and call center tech until my accident.) With my degree I can re-enter the motorcycle industry back in General Management which will take the burden of heavy lifting away.

I cannot imagine what Jacy went through. Thankfully my accident was not that bad but every accident has consequences whether they are physical, financial or emotional. People really should consider that when reaching for their phones. I too never text or talk when driving. I never did before my accident and now I have even more reason.

Oct 16, 2013, 2:56pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Kyle, I was thinking the same exact thing. I would hope that, should I EVER be found voting in an erection, someone would had had the compassion to pre-medicate me.

PS. There's better ways to stuff the ballot box!

Oct 16, 2013, 8:33pm Permalink
John Simmons

hahaha I did that on purpose to see IF anyone actually READS what is written.. ALL of you that caught that get a gold star in front of your name.. :)

Oct 17, 2013, 12:48am Permalink
Kyle Couchman

LOL Barb I second that .... and bow to the awesomeness of Ed's comedic comment.

As for the entertainment value of stuffing the ballot box that way, I guess I'd have to research that before agree/disagree with that.

Oct 17, 2013, 1:17am Permalink

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