Families share the tragic impact of distracted driving, learn what you can do

"She never looked up," said Tracy O'Carroll recounting the last seconds of her 18-year-old daughter's life, tragically ended when she drifted across the centerline of a rural North Carolina road and into the back axle of a loaded log truck in early January. Sarah Edwards died instantly. Mere moments before, Sarah was behind the wheel of her 1988 Honda Accord reading a text message. Less than a minute later the first 911 call was placed. Texting was cited as a contributing factor in her death.

Mandi Sorohan still has a hard time talking about her 18-year-old son Caleb's death. In 2009, Caleb was driving less than five miles from his Georgia home when he came around a curve and veered into the left lane, hitting a horse trailer head on. He had been reading a text message before the accident. The truck driver honked her horn, but he never looked up and died instantly.

Fifteen-year-old Angelina Bandino was walking with two of her friends along a pedestrian walkway just three houses away from her home in California when she was hit from behind by a truck driven by an 18-year-old woman. The driver had been typing a text message before the accident. Angelina's two friends survived, but sadly, she did not.

These are just three examples of young lives cut short by distracted driving, of the hundreds of such accidents that occur each year. These tragedies can easily happen to you or a loved one. The Department of Transportation and Consumer Reports have teamed up to produce a pamphlet aimed at helping parents and educators talk with teens about the risks of distracted driving. Inside you will find information, resources as well as steps you can take to learn about the problem and work to change teen behaviors. Download the pamphlet here.

For more stories and videos, see the Faces of Distracted Driving series by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Also check out distraction.gov and consumerreports.org/distracted.

--Liza Barth

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