2015 Deaths of GA Nursing Students Prompted Text-Free Driving Law

Photo: Google Images

A seven-car wreck took the lives of Emily Clark, Morgan Bass, Catherine Pittman, Abbie DeLoach, and Caitlyn Bagget six years ago.

The crash happened on their last day of clinical rotations in their first year of nursing school.

The accident and many others drove efforts toward Georgia’s Hands-Free driving law, which took effect in July 2018.

DeLoach’s family has kept her spirit alive through the creation of the Abbie DeLoach Foundation. It has distributed nearly $1 million in scholarships to Georgia nursing students, student-athletes, and outreach abroad in honor of her.

This year, the foundation is ramping up efforts to help reduce distracted driving by sharing #HandsFreeforAbbie images and messaging on social media and via companies to encourage drivers to make a commitment to drive phone-free by taking a pledge.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment, or navigation system—anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.

Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.

Driving practices and rules that are taught in A-1’s Defensive Driving Class can be applied to be a safe driver.

For more information visit www.a1drivingschools.com or call (770) 962-9555!

Jenny Chiem