DON T DRIVE STUPID Reggie Shaw was 19 years old in 2006, driving through the rain to work. He was also texting, which he d done before without consequences. He doesn t remember what he and his girlfriend were texting about. It wasn t that important. While texting, his vehicle drifted across the center line a couple of times before it clipped a car carrying two rocket scientists and fathers who were also on their way to work. James Furfaro, 38, and Keith O Dell, 50, were killed when Shaw s vehicle sent them spinning into the path of a truck. When I left that morning, it was definitely not my intention to hurt or harm anyone, and I took two lives, a tearful Shaw says in Zero Fatalities video on distracted driving. You know, it pretty much runs my life and everything I do on a daily basis. Shaw was convicted on two counts of negligent homicide. He was sentenced to jail and community service and has since told his story as a tragic cautionary tale anywhere he s asked, from the Oprah show to news reports, to high schools throughout Utah, to a book called A Deadly Wandering and more. Utah now has a tough anti-texting law that puts a texting-related crash that kills someone on par with a fatal drunken-driving crash. In Utah, texting while driving is a crime with graduated penalties, up to a $10,000 fine and up to 15 years in prison. Don t drive stupid, drive smart and live. That s the message Utah s Zero Fatalities campaign wants to get across to drivers young and old, but especially young. This message and program has its own website dontdrivestupid.com where you can learn tips and facts about safe driving. For example, did you know, nine out of 10 crashes happen because a driver made a mistake. In Utah, the most common causes of injury or death on our roads are: Aggressive driving. Distracted driving. Impaired driving, which means alcohol or drugs. Drowsy driving, which can be as dangerous as any of the others. Not wearing a seat belt, whether you re the driver or a passenger. Risks go up big time when you re rushing. Or when you have friends along. Or when you text and drive. Please remember, no text is worth a life. Many teens first truly absorbed the dangers of texting and driving when Shaw visited their schools. In assemblies, he s reminded countless teens that they are a lot like him and they do not ever want to make the mistake he made. Pledge today to be a safe driver and learn more at: dontdrivestupid.com Provided by AT&T The Saturn car that Reggie Shaw clipped while texting, is shown after the wreck. Provided by Zero Fatalities Reggie Shaw, who at 19 was texting while driving and killed two men. 2
275 LIVES WERE LOST ON UTAH ROADS IN 2015 LIVES LOST ON UTAH ROADS IN 2015 14 27 64 Drowsy Driving Distracted Driving Aggressive Driving 58 of which involved speed 75 86 Alcohol/Drug impaired Driving Unrestrained IN 2015 THERE WERE 176 DAYS WITH FATALITIES ON UTAH ROADS IN 2015 FATALITIES ON UTAH ROADS IN 2015 178 151 153 165 187 28 32 31 11 12 13 14 15 32 31 30 37 47 11 12 13 14 15 Motorists Pedestrians 45 36 11 12 13 14 15 5 6 3 9 5 11 12 13 14 15 Motorcyclists Bicyclists 68% 32% Men Women May 3, 2016 3
NEVER put the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm Place the shoulder belt across the center of your chest and avoid your neck Adjust the lap belt snugly across your hips, not your stomach BUCKLE UP EVERY TRIP, EVERY TIME Parent Tip: Set a good example and buckle up. 40x You are more likely to die in a crash if you are not buckled up. Buckle up If you knew you were going to be in a crash, would you buckle up? Of course you would. Seat belts save lives. Even if you are the best driver, you never know when a crash could happen. Protect your life and your future, pledge today to always buckle up. Make sure others buckle up If you are in a crash and one person in the car isn t buckled, that person can fly around the car injuring or killing you. Your life isn t worth the risk; make sure everyone is buckled. 4 4000 lbs Think you can hold yourself back in a crash? WEIGHT x SPEED = RESTRAINING FORCE If you weigh 100 pounds and you are traveling 40 mph, it would take 4000 lbs of pressure to hold yourself in that seat.
TEXTING WHILE DRIVING CAN BE AS DEADLY AS DRUNK DRIVING Parent Tip: Set the example, don t ever use your phone while driving. Multitasking is a myth Have you ever tried to walk down the stairs while texting, or talk on the phone while doing homework, or tell a story while playing a soccer game? Studies have shown our brains cannot effectively do two things at once. You are either focused on your phone, or you are focused on driving safely, but you can t do both. No text, snap, post, burger or conversation is worth your life. Stop it, before it stops you Did you know: If you text and drive you re as dangerous as someone who is TWICE the legal alcohol limit. This means a distracted driver can be more dangerous than a drunk driver. No matter the distraction, don t allow it. You have a responsibility as a passenger to speak up because it s your life and your future at risk. Plus, friends don t let friends drive distracted.. Know the Law If you are caught texting while driving, you can receive up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine. Injure someone when texting while driving, you can receive up to 6 months in jail and a $1000 fine. Kill someone when texting while driving, you can receive up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Having two or more friends in the car triples your chances of dying in a crash with a teen at the wheel. May 3, 2016 5
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AVOID AGGRESSIVE DRIVING: SPEEDING, WEAVING, TAILGATING, RUNNING LIGHTS Parent Tip: Tell your teen: Driving is not a race. Stay calm and drive on Driving should not be a race and should not be like anything you see in the movies. Aggressive driving is deadly. When you drive, you are traveling at high speeds in two tons of steel. So remember, your car is potentially more lethal than a speeding bullet. You should know In Utah, one in three fatal teen driver crashes involved speeding. Speeding increases the chance that a crash will result in injury or death. Most actions connected with aggressive driving are illegal, such as: speeding, running red lights and stop signs, failure to yield, tailgating, and weaving. If encountering an aggressive driver, your seat belt will reduce your chances of being injured or killed in the event of a crash so buckle up. 8
DON T DRIVE DROWSY Parent Tip: Help your teen get adequate sleep 8+ hours is needed to maintain proper alertness The scary truth Drivers ages 15-24 have the highest drowsy driving crash rates. Drowsy driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. If you are sleeping fewer than eight hours at night, your chances of getting in a car crash goes up 33 percent. Know the warning signs: Difficulty focusing or heavy eyelids Daydreaming or wandering thoughts Yawning repeatedly or trouble keeping your head up Drifting from your lane, tailgating or hitting a rumble strip Restless and irritable If you feel the symtoms: Take a short nap Get out of the car and stretch or walk around Switch drivers Find a safe place to sleep for the night May 3, 2016 9
NEVER DRIVE IMPAIRED Parent Tip: 10 Explain the dangers of impaired driving but promise to pick up your teen anytime, anywhere, for any reason. Not a drop Yup, that s the law. It is absolutely illegal to drive with an amount of alcohol in your system under the age of 21. What s the penalty? A DUI can cost up to $10,000 including a suspended license for a period of six months or until your 21st birthday. If you are under the influence of any drug, including medication, you may be convicted of a crime resulting in loss of your license for 90 days, court fines, mandatory ignition lock device on your vehicle and even jail time. But worse than DUI penalties, you could die or kill someone else. If you have been drinking......do NOT drive. And never get in a vehicle with someone who s been drinking or is impaired in any way. Also, when using prescription or over-the-counter medications, follow the warnings: May cause drowsiness or Do not operate a vehicle while using this medication. Call a friend or your parents for a ride if you are impaired Yeah you might get in BIG trouble, but wouldn t you rather be alive and not in jail. There are worse things than being grounded.
NEARLY ONE THIRD OF FATAL CRASHES ON OUR ROADS INVOLVE PEOPLE WHO AREN T EVEN IN A CAR Parent Tip: 5 BICYCLISTS LOST IN 2015 TIPS FOR CYCLISTS Always wear a helmet. Be respectful and courteous to drivers. Be alert; be seen. A bicyclist is considered a vehicle with the same rights and rules as a motorist. Always signal your intention to turn. Ride in the same direction as traffic. When impeding traffic, ride single file. Always signal your intention to turn. Ride predictably in a straight line. Obey all traffic laws, lights and signs. TIPS FOR MOTORISTS UTAH LAW: Maintain 3 feet between your vehicle and cyclists. Bicyclists have a right to a lane; share the road. 47 PEDESTRIANS LOST IN 2015 TIPS FOR PEDESTRIANS 6 11 pm is the most dangerous time for pedestrians; be alert, be seen. Never get out of your vehicle on the interstate; call 911 and ask for the non-emergency line for vehicle assistance. Cross the road in marked crosswalks, street corners or intersections. Look left, right and behind before crossing a driveway or road. Avoid walking on the road. Use sidewalks and paths. TIPS FOR MOTORISTS Drivers have a responsibility to watch out for pedestrians. At intersections always stop before the white line; watch for pedestrians when turning right into a crosswalk. 46 MOTORCYCLISTS LOST IN 2015 TIPS FOR MOTORCYCLISTS Use both brakes, not just the front. Gear up for every ride. Maintain a safe lane. Keep a safe distance between you and others on the road. Slow down; enjoy the ride. Nearly half of fatal crashes occur at over 50 mph. Over 40% of fatal crashes involve no other vehicle. Use brights during daytime and flash brights through intersections. Be seen day and night. TIPS FOR MOTORISTS Look twice for motorcycles. 31% of drivers who hit motorcycles were turning left. Give motorcycles more space than a regular vehicle. May 3, 2016 11
TEXTING & DRIVING IS EVEN DUMBER #DontDriveStupid A UDOT and DPS Program