“Keep your eyes on the road, your hand upon the wheel,” is more than just a catchy lyric in The Doors song, “Roadhouse Blues.” It is solid advice.
Any moment your eyes are off the road or your hands are off the wheel, you put yourself in a dangerous driving situation. Even sending a quick text takes your eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. This is like driving 100 yards, the length of a football field, at 40 mph with your eyes closed.
The National Safety Council estimates that more than 40,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes last year and cell phone use is the leading cause. With this in mind, April has been designated Distracted Driving Awareness Month by the National Safety Council.
Sure with today’s technology we can make phone calls, dictate texts or emails and update social media while driving but these are all actions that are proven to increase crash risk.
Personal injury law firm Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP is doing its part to help prevent distracted driving by creating a $5,000 scholarship to help a student offset the cost of college while raising awareness on the issue.
“Distracted driving poses a serious safety hazard for young drivers across the United States and the personal injury lawyers on our team constantly see first-hand the devastation it can cause,” says Partner Ted Rosenberg. “We established this scholarship as we advocate for road safety and spread the message about the dangers of texting and driving.”
To enter the 2017 Rosenberg & Gluck Road to Safety on Long Island Scholarship contest, Long Island high school seniors are asked to submit original creative content on one of the following topics:
- “Distracted Driving and Me” – Tell your personal story about either yourself or a close family member or friend who was affected by distracted driving.
- “Distracted Driver Awareness Campaign” – Share a personal story about an awareness campaign you have personally organized or administrated.
- “Why You Shouldn’t Text and Drive” – Write an article appealing to young drivers that conveys the message that distracted driving is dangerous.
Entries must be submitted via email to scholarship@lilawyer.com on or before June 1, 2017. All submissions will be judged by a panel from Rosenberg & Gluck based on the following criteria:
- Has the applicant effectively conveyed the theme of the contest?
- How creative was the message delivered?
- Does the project motivate teens to stop texting and driving behind the wheel?
On June 21, 2017, the winner, as selected by the judges, will be notified. All applicants consent to the publication of their submission and use of their photograph by Rosenberg & Gluck.
For more information on the scholarship, please visit www.lilawyer.com/scholarship.
As one of Long Island’s best personal injury law firms, Rosenberg & Gluck is known for results. The firm boasts over 100 years of combined experience and knowledge with a long track record of success.