|
The Mission of the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) is to prevent deaths and injuries caused by chemically impaired or distracted operators of any motor vehicle or watercraft and to assist victims of these crashes in Illinois.
|
|
You'd have to be crazy to drive with your eyes closed, so why do you drive intexticated?
For years, society thought that distracted driving was strictly confined to texting while driving. While texting and driving is extremely dangerous and does fall under the umbrella of distracted driving, there is so much more that is incorporated in distracted driving. From texting, talking on the phone, talking to other passengers, eating, applying makeup, reaching for a fallen object, day dreaming, making Tik-Toks, taking selfies, recording a video, and beyond, anything that takes your focus off of the task of driving constitutes as a distraction and impairs your ability to operate a motor vehicle. No matter how slight of a distraction you think it is, you are still impaired and, therefore, unable to drive to properly.
Did you know?
- A driver is impaired for an additional 27 seconds after sending or reading a text message
- Drivers who drive distracted are 6 times more likely to get in a crash than an alcholo or drug impaired driver
- It is illegal in Illinois to use your phone while driving. Drivers over 21 are permitted to use a hands-free device to communicate
- 9 people die and 1000 people are injured every day in a crash where at least one driver was distracted
- The crash death rate of males aged 16-19 was more than double of their female counterparts of the same age
- Other passengers are the top distraction for teen drivers
- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the US
|
|
|
What do we do now?
- Now that we know distracted driving is a serious and dangerous issue, what can we do to move forward and change the safety on our roads?
- Be a good influence- research has shown that the number one influence in a child's behavior is their parents. Set a good example while your kids are young so they grow up to be adults who never drive impaired. Don't talk on your phone or text while driving, and especially not with your kids in the car. The best way to teach safe driving is to practice it yourself.
- Drive Prepared- make sure you cue up your music, gps, handsfree device, and anything else you may need to use before you begin your drive.
- Wait on the call- don't call or text your teen or loved ones when you know they are driving.
- Get off the road- pull over to a safe location if you need to take a call or read a message. The few minutes it takes you to pull over to safely communicate, will allow you to keep yourself and others safe on the road.
|
|
Due to COVID-19, AAIM extend the observation of Distracted Driving and Alcohol Awareness Month from April through May 2020. From it's origination in 1982, AAIM has worked hard to promote and pursue safety by educating and working in the community, advocating for and assisting the victims impacted by impaired driving and distracted driving, working to ensure our courts continue to serve effective sentencing and hold impaired drivers accountable for their actions. To encourage awareness about distracted driving, we are sharing real life stories of loss, safety tips, facts, and laws pertaining to distracted driving. We encourage you to share this information with others to promote safer roadways and fewer fatalities.
|
|
|
"Are you inTEXTicated?" PSA Winners
AAIM proudly announces the winners of our 2020 Don’t Drive InTEXTicated video contest. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, IL students, Caroline Naraky, Summer Parker-Hall, and Mykal-Michele Parker Hall, did an outstanding job creating a message to portray the dangers of distracted driving. Due to COVID-19 and school closings, AAIM postponed Distracted Driving Awareness month to May. We will share the work of these lovely young ladies to spread the message of road safety and we encourage you to share their work as well! School closings for the remainder of the year made it difficult for students to create videos with friends and classmates, causing submissions to be lower than anticipated. We understand the inconvenience and emotional effects this pandemic as brought upon us. AAIM looks forward to schools reopening and to our youth, continuing to spread positive messages throughout our community. Please remember to share our Facebook posts to bring awareness to the dangers of distracted driving! Congratulations ladies!
AAIM on Facebook
#DontDriveInTEXTicated #aaimtosavelives
From Left: Caroline Naraky, Director, Summer Parker-Hall, and Mykal-Michele Parker Hall, Actors.
|
|
|
|
|
>>>> Watch the Winning Submission for Are You InTEXTicated? PSA.
|
|
John Hauptman
Tribute
May 26, 1971-June 20, 2018
On June 16, 2018, shortly before midnight of Father’s Day, John Hauptman was walking across the street and was fatally struck by a 16-year-old boy who was texting while driving.
Father’s Day 2018, his family awoke to the tragic news that their father, brother, and friend had suffered a traumatic brain injury and was on life support fighting to survive. Upon hearing this, his family traveled from all over the country to see him one last time and say goodbye to a man they loved dearly.
John’s brain stem had been severed in the crash forcing his family to make the hardest decision of their lives: remove him from life support. On June 20, 2018, John passed away in the hospital with his family by his side. If the emotional loss and impact had not been enough, the family continues to have to deal with an ongoing court process, which has been extremely difficult for his family, especially his children.
John is survived by his three children, ages 24, 10, and 6. At the time of the crash, his youngest children wrote letters to the judge stating they are “so sad they don’t get to see their daddy anymore” and how they miss his talks, hugs, and cookies. His
10-year-old son wrote that he is sad his dad “won’t get to watch him grow up” and he misses the fun he had with his dad.
If the driver chose not to text and drive that night, John would still be alive today. If the driver chose to put the phone down while driving, John’s children would have been able to spend Father’s Day having fun with their dad instead of sitting in a hospital room saying goodbye for the last time. One second can change your life, and the lives of others around you. Don’t drive inTEXTicated.
|
John Hauptman
|
|
|
|
|
