It has been a while since I have posted anything and for good reason. These past few months have been a whirlwind of change that included moving, selling two houses, purchasing another home, and starting a new job, all in the span of about six months. Now that things have settled down a bit, it’s time for me to get back to doing something that’s actually fun, posting a new blog!

As I approach 2 years since my accident and becoming an amputee, I thought it was time for me to speak out on something that changed my life forever. Distracted Driving. When we think of distracted driving, most of us think of texting and driving and that is certainly a big one. However, there are many things that we do behind the wheel of a vehicle that can distract us from the task at hand, actually driving our automobiles. Talking on our cell phones, eating, changing the radio station, looking in the mirror (at ourselves), adjusting our clothing, putting on makeup, and a variety of other things we choose to do while in our cars. And with all the advanced technology that exist in cars today, the car itself, though in the name of safety, can be distracting. Because of my job, I rent cars frequently for longer road trips. It gives me an opportunity to drive many different makes and models of cars, which can be fun. However, I found myself taking 10 minutes before I could even leave the rental car facility to get familiar with all the new buttons and gadgets newer cars come equip with. All this to say that there are now, more than ever, a myriad of different things that can distract us while driving.

When I think back to the time when I first got my driver’s license, it was such a thrilling time in my life. That new found feeling of freedom of being able to drive anywhere I wanted to go was so exhilarating. Back then, we did not have to deal with all of the distractions that we have to deal with today. My biggest distractions were changing the cassette tape and my friends acting the fool. Today, it absolutely terrifies me to think that my daughter will be driving in a few years, not because I don’t trust her, but others. My accident has made her hyper-aware of distracted drivers and she points them out when we drive down the road. We have seen some of the most blatant examples of people driving distracted and I often wonder what the heck is going through their minds. Now, full disclosure, have I ever sent a text while behind the wheel, yes. Have I ever looked down at my phone when it beeped or rang while driving, yes. I think if most people are honest, they would admit to the same. It’s funny because not that long ago, people seemed to find places just fine, communicated with their family and friends just fine, and did not need to be beholden to a device while driving to do so.

The gentleman who failed to yield at the stop sign and ultimately slammed into me admitted he was engaged in a conversation on his cell phone. You see, you really don’t have to be “not looking” at the road to be distracted. His mind was someone else and thus not paying attention to the road he was on or the stop sign he missed, or the guy about the pass through the intersection. It sounds strange but have you ever been in your vehicle, headed somewhere, and just zoned out? You get to your destination and have very little recollection of the trip? I have and it is down right scary. The slightest oversight can have dire consequences. One such case that I think about often is that of Anthony Phoenix Branca.

I first heard Anthony’s story when I met his father, Demetrius, at a Donate Life Month event in April 2016. He was there honoring his son who had given so much to others through his gifts of tissue donation. You see Anthony was killed by a distracted driver while waiting to make a left turn at a stop light. The gentleman that hit Anthony was driving distracted and thus ended the life of this young man. For this act, the gentleman received the legal equivalent to a slap on the wrist. That’s it. Life lost due to negligence and this gentleman suffered hardly any consequences. In response to this tragedy, Anthony’s parent’s, Demetrius and Melissa, started a revolution to not only end distracted driving but to also lobby for stricter laws and penalties for those that make the choice to drive distracted. As Demetrius puts it, they get to go to the capital building and yell at politicians, something we would all like to do from time to time. Ironically, a month after that event, I found myself lying in a ditch, in extreme pain after being hit by a distracted driver but I was the lucky one. I can tell my story, Anthony cannot. And because Anthony can no longer tell his own story, his parents are telling it for him through the Anthony Phoenix Branca Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising awareness on the consequences of distracted driving, http://www.apbfoundation.com

After my accident, I was out of work for over a year, the gentleman that hit me, back to work the next day. Cited for failing to yield at a stop sign. We pushed the issue and later license suspension and fines were added but not initially. Law enforcement is limited as to what they are able to do and only recently has progress been made, as it relates to giving law enforcement the tools they need to discourage such as act. One thing that we all have to remember, driving is not a right, it is a privilege. If someone decides that they are unwilling to safely operate a 3500-pound machine, capable of traveling at a high rate of speed that is comprised of thousands of parts, oil, and fuel, then they should have that privilege taken away. Accidents will happen, even under the most ideal conditions, but those that choose to drive distracted are increasing their chances. I truly believe the gentleman that struck me that fateful day did not leave home that morning with the intent of maiming someone for life but due to his irresponsible behavior, that’s exactly what he did. Will tougher penalties eliminate distracted driving, no. We have laws on the books that make it illegal to drive drunk but people do it every day. If one life (or leg in my case) can be saved by stiffening the penalties to discourage the behavior of distracted driving, wouldn’t it be worth it?

For those who are reading this, do me a favor. The next time you are driving and your cell phone rings or you hear the email or text notification, don’t look at your phone until it is safe to do so. And when you have a chance to safely return that call, email, or text, ask yourself one question, would this have been worth losing a life over?