INA, Ill. (Feb. 8, 2016) - The dangers of distracted driving are all around us, and next week, Miss Illinois Crystal Davis and Illinois State Police (ISP) Trooper Christopher Watson, will be on campus to speak to students about this growing issue.
The presentation, originally planned for Criminal Justice students, has grown with interest from other departments and programs on campus. Ron Meek, Criminal Justice Associate Professor, has helped plan the event, which will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18 in the RLC Theatre.
According to information from the ISP, driver inattention is a factor in more than 1 million crashes annually in North America. The result of these accidents is nearly $40 billion per year in an economic impact.
Miss Illinois 2016 Crystal Davis of Anna will speak first about her personal experiences with distracted driving spawning from an accident she was involved in year ago. Her platform, Crystal Clear Driving - Eyes on the Road, will illustrate that distracted driving is not just being on the phone or texting.
Afterward, Watson, Safety Education Officer for ISP District 13, will provide a presentation for all in attendance. He said though the definition of distracted driving is “anything that takes your attention away from the task of safely driving a vehicle,†there will be much more covered about the law and cell phone usage.
“We will take an in-depth look at the ISP’s Fatal Four driving errors, which include distracted driving,†said Watson. “[I hope students take away] how truly dangerous driving can be and how they can mitigate some of that risk by making good decisions behind the wheel.â€
For more information about the presentation, contact ReAnne Palmer at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1223 or palmerr@rlc.edu.