Don’t Text Your Life
Away!
By: Alexandra Cornell
The Big Issue

Developing a topic for my Girl Scout Gold Award wasn’t so
hard. A big issue that we face in our community are
distracted drivers. In today’s society there are numerous
forms of distracted drivers….
•
You have those that
drive while they eat.
•
You have those who
have their music up too
high and sing along.
•
Also you cannot forget
those (particularly
women) who finish
putting their makeup.
•
Also you can NEVER
forget those who drink
while driving.

Yes there are many other distracted drivers, but one form of distracted
driving that is major not just in out community, but the world is………
TEXTING WHILE
DRIVING!!!!
TEXTING AND DRIVING.......
Even Drizzy Supports it!!!
The Big Reason
The reason I chose “texting while driving”
because it involves two things people do on a
regular basis. Texting and driving. Two things
that are once combined, equal total danger.
It has become a growing cause of many
deaths not only here in America, but around
various parts of the world. For example,
Great Britain has passed a law banning
texting while driving, nationwide. The Brits
aren’t joking about this matter. Anyone who
is involved with an accident involving a death
or maybe a serious injury is sentenced four to
seven years in prison and it’s the same
sentence for drunk driving. Now here in the
United States, a law has yet to be passed
that nationally bans texting while driving, but
there are some states that have passed their
own individual laws. As of late 2009, there
were 14 states that have passed bans.
Maine
Oregon
Utah
Don’t go to Alaska!!!
Commercial Break!!
More Reasons

I, myself, have experienced a near death situation due to a relative, who so
happens to be texting while driving. I’m glad that I spoke up before anything
dangerous or serious could happen because if I hadn’t I am sure that I would
not be standing before you today or maybe in Acoma or paralyzed in some
form of fashion. I wasn’t even driving yet, but it did scare me straight about
the dangers of the road.
•
As you can see from the graph, 3.50% of
drivers that manipulate handheld devices
while driving of 2010-2011 were ages 1624. Senior citizens are doing way better
than we are. These numbers have got to
change.

Each year as more young teen drivers become newly licensed, I believe they
should be aware of the dangers of the road. They should be aware of the
consequences of eating while driving or texting while driving. Because once
they hit an innocent driver which causes death or a severe injury that they
may not be the same again, they will have to live with that for the rest of
their life. I do not know about you, but I think, I know I would be scared to
sleep at night wishing I could change everything.

Of course I’m not just talking to young drivers, I am also talking to you old
timers as well. Mom, Dad, Aunt, Uncle, Bubba, Little John or whatever you
called to us young people. Be aware of what you are doing because in the
future that will reflect on you and what that child does once he or she gets
behind the wheel.
Collegiate Life
Investment Foundation
(C.L.I.F.)
•
There are many organizations or big
company names that are constantly
promoting safe driving. For example
the video that was shown at the
beginning of the presentation was a
stunt by Volkswagen, AT&T,
Snapchat, and etc. I was fortunate
to work with a young lady named
Larissa E. Redmond.
•
Larissa E. Redmond is the
CEO/Founder of
Collegiate Life Investment
Foundation. She started this
organization in the honor of her
deceased fiancé, Clifton B. Gibbs.
C.L.I.F.
•
On Wednesday, February 1, 2012, Clifton Gibbs
and a fellow passenger were heading North
bound (in a far right lane) on Hwy 55 in
Memphis, Tn. A woman that was heading South
bound (in a far right lane) crossed over five
lanes of traffic and collided with Clifton’s car
head-on going at a speed of 75 mph in a 55
mph speed limit. Which caused the vehicle to
spin out of control and was hit once more by a
driver of a daycare bus. And what do you think
both of these drivers were doing?
TEXTING WHILE DRIVING!!!!
•
After being kept on life support for 2 days, he
was pronounced brain dead on February 3,
2012 at 6:00 am.
•
The young woman had a suspended license,
under the influence of marijuana, no type of
insurance, and texting while driving. This
young lady was NEVER brought before a judge.
Everyone survived, but Clinton.
C.L.I.F.
Because of this, Larissa Redmond started the
Collegiate Life Investment Foundation
(C.L.I.F.), to bring awareness to the dangers
of distracted driving, specifically with college
age drivers and in the Mid-South area. Since
its incorporation in 2012, the foundation has
raised funds for victims of distracted driving
accidents in TN, provided scholarships to
students who have committed to a life free
from distracted driving through the Clifton B.
Gibbs Scholarship Fund, and shared Clifton’s
story through speaking engagements,
conferences, and youth events throughout
the country.
Join With Me

So join with me as I hope to spread the word about warning people about the
dangers and consequences of texting while driving. Because no one should
have to go through what The Gibbs Family and Ms. Larissa went through.
Before you go here is a promise that I have created as a reminder to you that
we should all be better drivers.
A Better Driver Promise
I,___State Your Name___, promise to strive to become a better driver, A better driver
that thinks about my actions. As a better driver, I know my cellular device is a
distraction. I promise to put my cellular device somewhere that I will not be tempted
to use as I drive. Because my life and others around me are more important than the
next text I shall receive.
THANKS FOR COMING!!