It takes seconds of distractive driving to kill yourself and/or others. This is the message Greg Drew has been drilling into high schoolers across the country.
“Kids think they have superman syndrome, ‘It’s not going to happen to me’. They think there are no consequences but my message is look in the mirror and be a RATT, a responsible adult thinking teenager, and rat yourself out,” preached Drew at the Vanderhoof presentation March 27.
ICBC picked up Drew for their 2015 BC tour which made stops at Nechako Valley Secondary in Vanderhoof and Fort St. James Secondary Friday, March 27.
He tells the story of how his son Jason Drew died at the age of 17 due to injuries from an accident caused by speeding and distractive driving. His son’s crushed car accompanies Drew to each school so students can grasp the brutality of the accident. Jason’s shoes still crammed underneath the gas pedals.
“He was 6’5, 225 pounds and was trapped in the car for an hour and a half before help came,” Drew said as he talked about the challenges living in northern communities. “If a tree falls in the middle of the forest with none around, none hears it. Same thing with an accident on a back road.”
Drew’s unorthodox approach, tough love attitude and humorous perspective on life engaged students to listen to how his son’s death has affected him and his family.
“It’s these things right here that are your demise,” Drew said holding up a cellphone. “Distractive driving is a number one killer. You have to know how important your are right now. Put it away or turn it off because that text could be your last.”
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