FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - The message was clear and direct to North Schuylkill juniors and seniors that distracted driving can result in deadly consequences.
While there were statistics and facts presented during a special program Monday at the school, the most important message came from Lori Guzick, Pottsville, whose nephew, David Guzick, was killed in a crash last year caused by another driver who was distracted. She attended the program with David's mother, Mary Catherine Guzick.
The North Central Highway Safety Network presented information on what distracted driving is and how it negatively affects a person's ability to control a vehicle. Distractions include texting, using a cellphone or Smartphone, eating and drinking, grooming, reading (including maps), using a navigation system, watching a video, adjusting a radio, CD player or MP3 player and talking to passengers.
Since text messaging requires visual, manual and cognitive attention from the driver, statistics and studies show it by far the most alarming distraction.
The program in the auditorium was introduced by driver education teacher Shawn P. Gibbons, followed by a presentation by NCHSN project coordinator Carol A. Alonge. Also attending were NCHSN coordinators Joseph O'Donnell from the Pottsville office and Robin Rivera of the Northampton office in Lehigh County.
Earlier in the morning, the students signed the Distracted Driving Pledge, which includes a pledge not to engage in activities while driving in order to promote safety. The pledge tells the students that if something, be it cellphone, food or other items, causes or can cause a distraction, then the thing to do is "Just Put It Down."
"First of all, when we talk about distracted driving, I'm not just pointing the finger at you. Adults get distracted, too. And the problem is actually to the point right now that I would call from a highway safety standpoint an epidemic. It really is," Alonge said to the students. "We are losing lives."
Alonge said that distractions are a danger for everyone on the road.
"I want you to understand that every single time that you take your eyes off the road, even for a couple of seconds, you're risking your life, the passengers in your car and the people who share the road with you at that particular time," Alonge said.
Alonge presented statistics that showed the dangers, particularly about texting while driving. She said sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent - at 55 miles per hour - of driving the length of an entire football field blind.
Lori Guzick spoke from the stage, and her emotional and heartrending talk had the auditorium so quiet as students listened intently to her words.
"Dave was 24 when he died. He grew up in Pottsville and was the only child of Jack and Mary Catherine Guzick," she said, explaining that he enjoyed many things, but most of all enjoyed riding his motorcycle. "He graduated from Pottsville High in 2007."
She spoke of his love for football. After graduation, he attended Widener University and earned an engineering degree.
Guzick said Dave bought his first new Harley-Davidson motorcycle on Feb. 25, 2013.
"March 9, 2013, was a warm and beautiful day, and Dave took his new bike out for a ride," Guzick said. "He was traveling on Route 443 near Pine Grove about 1:45 p.m. heading back toward Pottsville. As he approached an intersection, a truck traveling in the opposite direction was stopped. Just as Dave entered the intersection, a vehicle driven by a 20-year-old girl slammed into the back of the truck and threw that truck into Dave's path. He didn't stand a chance."
Guzick said her nephew tried to avoid the crash, but could not, sustaining multiple major injuries. He was knocked out at the scene and never regained consciousness.
Guzick's voice broke a few times as she gave her emotional talk. She spoke of Dave being removed from life support and waiting for his death so that his organs could be harvested as an organ donor.
Guzick said that the driver of the car that crashed into the truck told police she was distracted, and Guzick believes that her cellphone records show she may have been texting.
"Sadly, our communities, your school, my school, all the schools, are no strangers to tragic accidents and losses," Guzick said. "But this was not an accident. This was a crash. This was a preventable crash. Losing someone you care about in such a senseless, preventable way is a tragedy. Could you live the rest of your life knowing that you were responsible for killing someone, and what if that someone is your best friend, or your girlfriend or boyfriend, or somebody you don't know? What if that person is yourself? No family, no family should have to endure what our family has had to endure over the past year. If you're one of those people who are skilled enough to text while you're driving, believe me when I say you're not."
After the program, Mary Catherine Guzick said the message needs to be presented as often as necessary.
"I hope I hear someone say that it made a difference in someone's life today," she said.
The North Schuylkill School District is hosting safe driving events to promote Global Youth Traffic Safety Month. Activities will go through this week. As part of Global Youth Traffic Safety Month, North Schuylkill is promoting a Teen Safe Driving Campaign to reduce the number of teen-related driving crashes and fatalities. Throughout the week, students will be sponsoring:
- Daily morning announcements focusing on the importance of safe driving
- Chalk the Block today
- Seat Belt Safety Information on Thursday
- Seat Belt Safety Check and Appreciating Law Enforcement Breakfast on Friday
As part of Global Youth Traffic Safety Month, advisers and students are working in cooperation with Students Against Destructive Decisions and driver's education classes to create the important traffic safety awareness campaign. Local sponsors include Miller's Sunoco in Frackville and Ashland Ford in Ashland.
The next distracted driving program will be held May 5 at Blue Mountain High School, with Guzick speaking to the students, followed by a Survival 101 exercise with a mock crash.
