Safe driving advocate bringing awareness to distracted driving
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)– April is distracted driving awareness month. In 2023, 60 fatalities were caused by distracted driving in Alabama, reports Drive Safe Alabama.
In February 2018, Michelle Lunsford's only daughter, Camryn, was killed after her car collided with an 18-wheeler on her way home from work. Camryn was 26 days away from being 18 and three months from graduating from Thompson High School in Alabaster. The cause of the crash was distracted driving.
Initially, the police reported to Lunsford that her daughter was texting while driving. However, when Lunsford recovered Camryn's phone, she realized this was not true.
'I was able to see, through her email, that she wasn't texting,' said Lunsford. 'she was actually recording a happy birthday message to her friend.'
Since that day, Lunsford has been advocating for increased legislation for distracted driving. She was one of the leaders pushing for the Hands Free Law, enacted in 2023. Alabama joined 30 other states in banning the use of phones while driving.
Lunsford's message to everyone getting out on the road is simple: it can wait.
'The consequences of something happening could be a nightmare,' said Lunsford. 'to lose anyone that you love behind the wheel because of a phone or any distraction…it can wait.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cullman authorities hold news conference ahead of Rock the South
CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) — Members of the Cullman Police Department, Cullman County Sheriff's Office and Cullman County District Attorney's Office are holding a news conference ahead of next week's Rock the South festival. The news conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. and can be seen in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Birmingham teen injured after home shot into for second time
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A teen is recovering after shots were fired into a home overnight. Police confirm a 15-year-old was shot at a home on the 900 block of Redstone Lane around 3:40 a.m. Currently, police believe an unknown person fired shots into the home and drove off. Gov. Kay Ivey ceremonially signs Safe Alabama bill package While police said it is unknown if the home was targeted in the shooting, they noted the home was shot into previously in December 2024. The victim is expected to survive. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Gov. Kay Ivey ceremonially signs Safe Alabama bill package
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Governor Kay Ivey ceremonially signed her 'Safe Alabama' bill package on Thursday. With her signature, Gov. Ivey banned Glock switches and expanded police immunity in the state. While law enforcement and leaders are excited, some people expressed concerns about one of the bills. One bill makes it a crime to possess machine gun conversion devices in the state. Another makes law enforcement immune from lawsuits unless they clearly violate someone's civil rights. Gov. Ivey said Alabama is the most pro-law enforcement state in the nation. 'I'm proud to be a part of it,' she said. 'Public safety is important. We've taken steps to make it easier for police and law enforcement to do their jobs and do it effectively.' Another bill expanded Aniah's Law, allowing judges to deny bail for more kinds of violent offenses. Hal Taylor, secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, said these statutes will increase recruitment. 'If I do my job properly, and somebody doesn't agree with what happened, I could possibly be in jail? And now, they've got something to know, that somebody's there with them to back them if they do have a use-of-force case?' said Taylor. 'It's a gamechanger for us.' But, Rep. Curtis Travis (D-Tuscaloosa) said that protection for use-of-force cases could actually have consequences. Report: Helicopter pilot had 'do not fly' medication in his system at the time of fatal 2023 crash in Alabama 'Just hiring people, just because they say, 'I want to be a police officer,' I think that's the wrong attitude to take. You've got some people whose attitude and position will not follow what you will strive for as a proper law enforcement,' said Travis. 'You know?' House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said the police immunity bill, and the package overall, will help retain more police officers. 'I think that one's positive,' he said. 'Both sides of the aisle had a chance to look at it, so I believe it's going to be positive for law enforcement officers across the state. We've had some issues in metropolitan areas where crime has spiked, at a point where it's hurt recruiting businesses and bringing industry into the state.' The bill expanding police immunity will take effect on October 1. Gov. Ivey said a safe Alabama is a secure future for Alabama. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
