Just Drive Day raises awareness of distracted driving

MONTICELLO — As they have for nearly a decade now, folks will be taking to the streets to bring awareness to the dangers of distracted driving.

The ninth annual Just Drive Day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Monticello Middle School, located at 800 Broadway St. East.

Every day in the U.S., nine to 10 people are killed and more than 1,000 are injured in distracted driving crashes, with cell phones often the culprit.

In 2021, distracted driving killed more than 3,500 people.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than 84% of drivers recognize the danger from cell phone distractions and find it “unacceptable” that drivers text or send an email while driving. Nevertheless, 36% of these same people admit to having read or sent a text message or email while driving in the previous month.

At any given moment across America, about 660,000 drivers are using or manipulating electronic devices while driving.

“By raising awareness and working together as a community we can save lives,” event organizers state.

Locals are invited to dress in orange to walk, run or bike along a dedicated loop to bring attention to the perils associated with distracted driving.

The route will run down Broadway, turn south on Washington Street, then east on 7th, around Target, and back on Broadway. The path will be lined with signs featuring distracting messages (geared only to walkers and runners).

There will be snacks, refreshments and a number of displays and presentations at the school, along with pledge sheets for people to sign and commit to being attentive drivers.

Just Drive Day was started by Monticello residents Greg and Amy LaVallee in 2015, and its origins are rooted in tragedy.

The couple lost their son, Phillip, in a tragic car accident when the driver behind the wheel of the vehicle he was in became distracted. At the time, Phillip was 19 and a student at South Dakota State University. He was passionate about running and was part of the university’s track and cross country teams.

For those who can’t make it out in person, there is a virtual event as well. To participate, take a photo of your run, walk or bike ride from any location and share it to the Just Drive Day Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JustDrive Day or on the Just Drive Day Twitter page at @justdriveday.

For more information on the event and about Just Drive, visit www.justdriveday.org.