Our Director of Operations, Judie Nuskey, recently attended the 11th Annual Distracted Driving Summit in Richmond, VA. DRIVE SMART Virginia introduced our First-ever Behind the Wheel Ride and Drive Experience, featuring our instructors Keith Edlund and Frank Monaco. The night before, we enjoyed some team building at the Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball game, setting the stage for the big event. We are grateful to everyone who attended and appreciate the positive feedback on the experience. We made some incredible connections and are excited about the potential collaborations ahead.
A few of the sessions on the agenda included:
The Critical Role of Every Participant in Effective Crash Investigations
Advanced Technologies to Detect and Reduce Distracted Driving
Driving Change: Innovative Strategies to Combat Dangerous Driving Behaviors
Advancements and Initiatives from the National Distracted Driving Coalition
Judie was honored to be a speaker and delivered a presentation on "Why Traffic Safety Should Matter to Your Business," discussing the cost of safety, knowing your drivers, and providing them with the tools to be safe on the road.
The summit also featured a candlelight vigil with families of victims of distracted driving crashes, sharing their stories and the foundations they’ve established to raise awareness: Pam O’Donnell and Christy King, your stories are powerful, we have a lot of work to do. Additionally, the National Work Zone Memorial was on display, honoring those lost in work zones, with the ultimate hope of seeing zero names added as we strive for zero fatalities.
Lauren A. Collins, the director of safety policy at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, addressed that driver responsibility is still important:
"As new safety technology is introduced, need to work to establish consumer acceptance and demand as well as education about system capabilities, limitations, and driver's role to ensure safe operation. While we are working to develop systems that try to compensate for driving errors, we need to continue and expand behavioral programs that work to create a "Culture of Safety".
We extend our heartfelt thanks to DRIVE SMART Virginia and Kristin Pettway, for organizing such a meaningful and impactful event. Their dedication to promoting road safety is truly commendable, and we are proud to have been a part of this important summit. We look forward to continuing our partnership in the fight against distracted driving.