News release from Office of Representative Walter Timilty
Representative Walter F. Timilty (D-Milton) hosted a forum highlighting the dangers of texting and driving for the sophomores and juniors at Milton High School. The goal of this presentation, which was facilitated by AT&T, is to generate awareness of illegality and perils of texting while driving. Timilty’s goal is to arrest the alarming trend of motor vehicle fatalities among our nation’s youngest and most inexperienced drivers. Also participating in this sobering presentation were David Mancuso, Vice President of External Affairs for AT&T, Milton Fire Chief Jack Grant, Norfolk County District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey, and Milton High School Vice Principal Yolanda Beech.
“It Can Wait” is an educational presentation illustrating the tragedies that emanate from the illegal conduct that is texting while driving. This includes a powerful documentary, which features stories from individuals whose lives have been forever altered by texting while driving. Following the presentation, the students were invited by Timilty to sign a pledge to refrain from texting and while operating a motor vehicle.
“After 26 years in the fire department, it is my sincere hope that the Milton Fire Department is never called upon to respond to a motor vehicle accident caused by the illegal use of texting and driving,” said Grant.
Distracted driving is any non-driving activity that a person engages in that has the potential to distract the driver from safely operating a motor vehicle; thereby increasing the risk of motor vehicle accident. The three main types of distraction (visual, taking eyes off the road; manual, taking hands off the wheel; and cognitive, not thinking about driving) are all invoked when a driver texts while driving. According to the United States Department of Transportation, of the 5,500 people killed last year due to distracted driving, the largest proportion of fatalities occurred among young people under the age of 20.
“As the first signatory of the pledge, I believe that this is a strong first step towards eliminating senseless tragedies caused by texting while driving,” stated Timilty.