Texting, driving can be deadly

Presenting the one-hour program were Johnny Mac and Jeanne Brown of Wellman, Texas. Their oldest daughter, Alex, age 16, was killed in a single car accident while she was texting and driving on the way to school in 2009.

The couple established The Remember Alex Brown Foundation to honor their daughter's memory by educating others about the dangers of texting while driving. The couple and their youngest daughter, Katrina, travel the country at their own expense, warning about the dangers of texting while driving.

"We want to make people realize how dangerous cell phones can be... and how valuable each one of you are," said Jeanne Brown. That message was repeated throughout the one-hour assembly.

Nick Bartley, a senior at Alexander High School, invited the family to the area for his senior project on the dangers of texting.

"Your life is far more important than a text from a cell phone...don't do what our daughter did," pleaded Mrs. Brown to the hushed crowd of students in the school's gym.

"You are all here for a purpose, not by accident... please be safe and be able to experience your future," said Mrs. Brown.

Driving while texting is the same as driving drunk. "You are four times as likely to wreck if you are drunk or while using your cell phone," said Mrs. Brown.

She told the WCHS student body that 11 teenagers a day are killed in a car accident because of texting while driving.

"Texting is just not worth it. Your brain is either going to focus on the road or texting... not both," said Mrs. Brown.

Her husband described their oldest daughter as "a good kid who made good choices in the big things, but not in the small things and it took her life."

Brown told students that "teens are more likely to wreck... but I hope it is a fender bender." He acknowledged to students that it was harder from them not to text than adults because they have been doing it so long.

"When I was your age, there weren't any cell phones. I know you get busy and caught up...it's an instinct to pick up the phone and see who has texted.

"But there is nothing in that phone that is more important than you... the reality of texting can be dying," said Brown.

The Browns' youngest daughter, Katrina, poignantly described the day her sister was killed and how it has affected her since.

"I never thought of Alex dying," said Katrina. "She was so full of life... we are supposed to be fighting over who's using the bathroom mirror now, not missing her.

"My oldest sister is dead, because of a text. Don't text and drive. Your influence on people is more important than you think... your family and your school will suffer and be shaken," said Katrina.

"You may think your decision to text will only affect you, but it can just about destroy your family," said Mrs. Brown.

She urged students to sign a pledge, sponsored by The Remember Alex Brown Foundation, to drive safely, not text while driving and to wear a seatbelt. Students were given the pledge after the assembly.

The Browns asked students to tell their parents about the dangers of texting and driving and ask them not to text while driving also.

The Browns urged students to use cell phone applications which can stop text messages while they are driving.

The Phoneguard app uses the phones internal GPS system to determine how fast the phone is moving and it disables the texting, email and keyboard functions of the phone when it detects speeds over 10 mph.

The app can also be set up to notify a parent when a vehicle is moving at an unsafe speed by sending a notification to another device. Another feature is TimeOut mode that determines when a child can send or receive text messages, email and surf the web.

TextTogle is developed with the primary intent of intercepting text messages while driving and immediately replying to the sender with a pre-configured or personalized message. Thirty percent of all profits from the app go to The Remember Alex Brown Foundation.

The Wellmans were surrounded by students following their talk Thursday. The family will also be at schools in Hickory and Taylorville this week. They have been featured on "America's Makeover-Home Edition."

They have also teamed up with former Wilkes resident Allen Finley in an advertising campaign on the dangers of texting while driving. The theme is "Text and Drive Killer Idea." Billboards have been placed in the Hickory area with that theme and bumper stickers are being distributed with that slogan.

Source: http://www.journalpatriot.com/news/article_e18d0836-f10b-11e0-8882-001a4bcf6878.html