Distracted driving results in tragedy

To the editor:

The other day as I was reading through the March 17-30, 2010 issue of Indiana Lawyer, my attention was called to David Temple’s article “Be smart: Don’t use cell phone while driving!”

On March 18, 2010, a very close friend was stopped at a stoplight near his family home in Minnesota. Carefully strapped into his car seat and soundly sleeping was his 14-month-old son, Grayson Paul Earl Jett. A woman reached to the passenger floor for her fallen cell phone and slammed into their stopped car. Grayson sustained head injuries and later died at the hospital. The police reported that Grayson’s death was completely preventable.

Grayson is – was – just 22 days younger than my own daughter. Daughters, sons, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, and others are dying needlessly every day due to distracted driving. I myself am guilty of cell phone use including texting, checking on Facebook, and making calls in the car. But not anymore.  

It should not take a personal loss to change our habits so innocent people are not impacted by our bad choices, but, it so often does. There is nothing more important than the lives in our vehicle and those around us. Grayson’s mom recently posted on Facebook that “if anything positive can come from this tragedy, it is that we are smarter and safer drivers, and the consequences of distracted driving have real bite.”

Thank you for bringing attention to this important issue. May your readers remember Grayson and others who have senselessly died and keep their eyes on the road while behind the wheel.

Safe travels,

Aimee R. Eller
Fishers