Texting tragedy recounted by state trooper

By Sherrice Gilsbach, Crain News Service

DETROIT (April 10, 2013) — Former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, though retired from the position, is spreading messages aimed at ending distracted driving as the nation observes "Distracted Driving Awareness" month.

In a recent tweet, Mr. LaHood shared a touching story written by a Kansas state trooper. In it, trooper Casey Simoneau recounts taking inventory of a car accident scene. The accident was caused by one driver hitting another car head-on after attempting to pass while texting. The driver who had been texting died in the crash; two other people were severely injured.

Mr. Simoneau writes about how many people are affected by these crashes—not only the victims of the crash but their friends and families as well as the first responders on the scene and the other drivers on the road.

"A witness who was enjoying a peaceful drive will have to live with a horrible memory," Mr. Simoneau explains.

Individuals are sharing stories to try to affect change during April, designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation as "Distracted Driving Awareness" month.

According to data recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,300 people died in distracted driving incidents in the U.S. in 2011—up from 3,092 the year before.

Read Trooper Simoneau's full story here.

This article appeared in Autoweek magazine, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.