Distracted Driving Awareness Campaign Will Honor Romeo High School Student
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Michigan, December 1, 2011 - A mock distracted driving crash video will be filmed today on 18 Mile Road, east of Garfield, in Clinton Township.
The video is being developed for the "Remembering Ally: Distracted Driving Awareness Campaign," which the Traffic Improvement Association (TIA) plans to kickoff in early 2012.
The campaign was named in memory of Ally Zimmerman, a 16-year-old Romeo High School student and Oakland County resident, who was hit by a distracted driver and later died.
"Distracted driving is a serious, life-threatening behavior that steals loved ones from us and puts innocent drivers in danger every time they hit the road," said Jim Santilli, executive director of TIA.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 5,500 people were killed and almost a half million were injured in crashes related to distracted driving in 2009.
Participating in the development of the video are: the Clinton Township Department of Fire, Rescue, and EMS; Clinton Township Police Department; Henry Ford Macomb Hospitals; Macomb County Sheriff's Office; Medstar Ambulance; Michigan Department of Transportation; Michigan State Police; Ruehle's Towing; TIA; U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit; and, several citizens and students.
According to a recent report released by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, index crimes in Michigan resulted in $1.9 billion in monetary costs, while traffic crashes resulted in $4.8 billion in monetary costs during 2009. When further expanded to include monetary and non-monetary quality-of-life costs, index crime costs totaled $4.7 billion in 2009, while traffic crashes resulted in $9.1 billion in total costs.
"A traffic fatality not only tears apart families and friends, but also results in a hefty financial cost to society," said Santilli. "Research has proven that crashes can be prevented through education, enforcement, engineering, and responsible driving."
The campaign also includes the development of posters, a TV public service announcement, and a multimedia presentation. These materials will be available to high schools, colleges and universities, and law enforcement agencies in Michigan. They will also be available nationally through the TIA website, and promoted on social media sites.
More than twenty law enforcement agencies are participating in the campaign, in addition to numerous high school and college students, concerned citizens and businesses, and members of Ally's family.
ABOUT THE TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT
ASSOCIATION
Headquartered in the City of Auburn
Hills, the Traffic Improvement Association (TIA)
is a non-profit traffic safety agency that
serves approximately seventy member communities
in Michigan. Created in 1967 by more than
200 business and government leaders, TIA is
dedicated to facilitating engineering,
education, and enforcement programs that reduce
human and economic losses caused by traffic
crashes, and improve mobility in Michigan.
The Board of Directors consists of
representatives from the automotive, civil
engineering, education, law enforcement, and
public official sectors. TIA's successful
traffic management model is unique worldwide.
In a 2006 Federal Highway Administration
publication titled, "Innovative Intersection
Safety Improvement Strategies and Management
Practices: A Domestic Scan," TIA and the Road
Commission for Oakland County were recognized as
a best practice. As a result of a strong
partnership between TIA, the Road Commission for
Oakland County, law enforcement, and member
communities, Oakland County roads are now among
the safest in the world.
TIA Spokesman
JIM SANTILLI
Executive Director
1-248-334-4971 Office
1-248-475-3434 Fax
E-Mail: tiami@tiami.us
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Contact Info
1827 N. Squirrel Road
Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326
1-248-334-4971 Office
1-248-475-3434 Fax
www.tiami.us