As part of its work in the community, the Abbie DeLoach Foundation (ADF) raises awareness about distracted driving and helps individuals make a commitment to end it. ADF encourages everyone to join its #HandsFreeForAbbie pledge campaign in the month of April, which coincides with Distracted Driving Awareness month. 

The #HandsFreeForAbbie hashtag was created in honor of Abbie DeLoach, one of five Georgia Southern University nursing students to lose their lives on April 22, 2015, due to a distracted driver. Two ways to get involved: 

• Visit HandsFreeForAbbie.comto take the pledge and download images you can share on social media throughout the month of April.

• Share the pledge and encourage others to make a commitment by signing this downloadable and printable pledge sheet.

“Creating awareness of the dangers of distracted driving is of utmost importance to help prevent tragedy on the roads and loss of loved ones,” said Jimmy DeLoach Jr., Abbie’s father and president of the Abbie DeLoach Foundation. “This is especially important for our young drivers to understand. And it starts with those who influence their behaviors — like parents — to also commit to safe driving and be good role models of doing the right thing while on the road.”

Some startling statistics to note: 

• The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) indicates that 50,963 distracted driver convictions were reported to DDS in 2022, showing that too many drivers in Georgia were not focusing on the road.

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shared the following stats in its Traffic Safety Facts Research Note from May 2023:

o   8% of fatal crashes, 14% of injury crashes and 13% of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.

o   In 2021 there were 3,522 people killed and an estimated additional 362,415 people injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving distracted drivers.

o   5% of all drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes in 2021 were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes.

o   7% of drivers 15 to 20 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of the fatal crashes.

o   In 2021 there were 644 nonoccupants (pedestrians, pedalcyclists and others) killed in distraction-affected traffic crashes.

• The New York Times, in The Morning newsletter from Dec. 11, 2023, shared that there has been a rise in U.S. traffic deaths and “… one major change in driver behavior: the use of smartphones.” The article also states, “American drivers seem to be addicted to their phones in ways that drivers elsewhere are not. Surveys suggest Americans spend more time on their phones while drivingthan people do in other countries.”

For more information about ADF and the good works it does in the community, visit abbiedeloachfoundation.com. ADF’s mission depends on the support and compassion of donors. Click here to learn more about corporate and individual donations.