Podcast: Mentoring Ministry Leads Campaign for Safe Driving

Don’t Text and Drive Campaign Special Presentation
Held on March 29, 2010 at GACS
Sponsored By: Dr. Ray Hawkins & his Mentoring Ministry Team

This podcast is a follow-up to the March 19, Top News Story covered by Digital Managing Editor Rebecca McLean – “Distracted Driving: Not a Problem? Think Again!”

Thanks to Dr. Ray, his Mentoring Ministry Team, and to Colins Hill Senior Miles Benton for reminding us all of the importance of driving without distractions.

PODCAST: Driving Without Distraction

Distracted Driving: Not a Problem? Think Again!

What’s in the news?

It’s commonly known that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous but just what is at risk when you answer that phone call while behind the wheel? Using a cell phone while driving not only puts yourself in danger, but you are also risking the lives of everyone else on the road.

The local NBC affiliate, 11 Alive, has started an initiative known as The Great Hang Up. This initiative is encouraging people to take a pledge promising to turn their phones off while driving. Take the pledge today and encourage family and friends to do the same.

Distracted driving is usually associated with teen drivers but research is showing that teens are not the only age group answering the phone or attempting to text while behind the wheel. Adults are just as likely to get in an accident while texting or chatting on phones. Research is showing that hands-free devices are not solving the problem of distraction. Do yourself a favor and take a look at the statistics in this report by the Institute for Highway Safety.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) reports: “Distracted Driving – including the use of cell phones – is a major contributor to automobile crashes. Between 4,000 and 8,000 crashes related to distracted driving occur daily in the United States. In a year, they (cell phones) contribute to as many as one-half of the 6 million U.S. crashes reported annually. AAA has worked out a ten-point plan to help address this issue. But the best advice is to avoid distractions whenever possible.”

Although distracted driving is typically associated with cell phone use, there are many other distractions that cause problems: driving when you are in an emotional state, driving while eating or drinking, driving while trying to read directions, driving while listening to passengers or listening to music. Any of these practices while driving could potentially distract you from performing well behind the wheel and could put your life and the lives of others at risk.

What is GACS doing about it?

Parents, are you aware that texting while driving makes your teen’s reaction time as slow as a 70 year old? Texting while driving (and other distracted driving) is literally killing our teens. Under the guidance of Dr. Ray Hawkins, the Peer Mentoring Ministry at GACS is hosting a school-wide campaign to bring attention to teens who lose their lives in car crashes as a result of distraction and poor decisions. The GACS school’s website will soon include a podcast giving you several key statistics that EVERY parent of Junior High and High School students should know. [Watch for the link to be included in this article.]

GACS Mentors are challenging all teen drivers to join in the challenge: DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE…LIVE TO TELL THE STORY. Presentations by area teens are being scheduled now for all GACS high school Bible classes the week prior to Spring Break. Everyone has a story to tell, whether it is a dramatic story of how they have been saved in some way or just a word of encouragement to someone else who needs it. As the Mentors warn us, “How can we encourage others along their life path if we die along ours?”

Think you have a special ability to muti-task while driving? Think this has very little or nothing to do with you? THINK AGAIN! Accept the challenge to hang up and live to tell the story.

Driving Safely in the Rain

DRIVING down the road, the thunder clapping, the lightning illuminating the dark, gloomy sky, the rain bucketing down. Slowing down, trying to see, leaving more space in front, and trying to get to school –these are dilemmas facing students like me today.

I arrive on Indian Trail, only to find water blocking my path. I can see the school, I can see GACS. But how to get there?

Rain can cause a lot of problems for drivers of all ages, but especially teen drivers. When it’s raining, there are a few skills to keep in mind. The main one is always to have an alternate route. If you only know one way to get to somewhere, like GACS, problems will arise. Many students struggled finding their way to school on September 22nd because of Indian Trail’s being completely flooded in between Satellite and the school’s campus.

To decrease your chances of being in an accident in wet conditions, (one of the main causes of accidents) slow down. Going fast in the rain is not a good idea. It’s not even a good idea to go the speed limit at times. If you need to stop, you will struggle to stop before hitting the car in front of you. Also, visibility is horrible in the rain, so always have your headlights on.

Leave more space between you and the car in front of you. Stopping takes longer in the rain. If you can, try to avoid braking. If you do need to break, gently pump on the break.

Try to stay as close to the middle of the road as you can. Water tends to pool towards the outside lanes. And if you see a puddle of water, slowly inch up to test its deepness. If you can’t see the road, the best idea is to try to avoid going through the lake.

Next time you hear the thunder clapping, see lightning illuminating the sky, and rain bucketing down, remember to slow down, leave more space in front of you, have a backup route, pump your breaks instead of breaking hard. Remember to be safe on the road in wet conditions and avoid that accident.

*Information from: http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/pubs/videoresource/t5driverain.pdf