11-04-2025
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.'
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