What Kills 6,000 People Per Year in the U.S.?

Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver.  Who are these people?  Can it happen to you or your loved one?  

The U.S. Department of Transportation has created a new programs called “The Faces of Distracted Driving.”  It's an online video campaign designed to prevent distracted driving by raising awareness by putting the stories of real people at the forefront.

The Department of Transportation believes that putting human faces on this issue will force motorists to think twice before picking up that cell phone while in the driver’s seat.  The first three “Faces of Distracted Driving” video stories are below. 

13 year-old Margay Schee of Citra, Florida she was the victim of wrongful death when her school bus was hit by a semi-truck travelling at 60 mph; the driver of the semi said he never saw the bus.  Rescuers were not able to get her out of the burning wreckage in time.

58 year-old Julie Davis of Rudolph, Wisconsin, was the grandmother of 14.  She was out for a walk alongside a road with her bestfriend when a 19 year-old driver, going 70 mph, hit her and killed her instantly.  

16 year-old Ashley Johnson of Asheville, North Carolina died when she was looking at a text message, she veered over the center line and crash head-on with an oncoming vehicle.  

The first three “Faces of Distracted Driving” videos can also be viewed at http://www.distraction.gov/faces/index.html and those with personal stories to share are invited to send them in to faces@distraction.gov.   New video stories will be added every few weeks.

Listening to stories like this helps make the danger real.  If you think you can use your cellphone safely while driving be it talking or texting your wrong.  With nearly 6,000 people killed each year by distracted drivers it's only a matter of time until it touches your life.  We can stop the cycle by simply putting down the cellphone and not using it while driving, period.  Isn't it worth the life that could be saved?