Faces of Distracted Driving: Linda Doyle, 61 "No family should ever have to lose a loved one to something as insignificant as a text message or a phone call."

Linda Doyle was one of those people who devoted herself to helping others.  Her generous spirit even extended to rescuing feral cats in her Oklahoma City neighborhood.

On September 3, 2008, Linda was on her way to pick up food for the cats she took care of every day.  Proceeding through an intersection where she had a green light, her car was struck by a pickup truck driven by a young man who was talking on his cell phone.  Linda was killed instantly.

At the crash scene, there were no skid marks, no evidence that the young man had even attempted to brake.  Why not?  Because, although he was looking straight ahead, he never saw the red light.  And he never saw Linda Doyle.

Today, Linda's daughter, Jennifer Smith, shares her mother's story in our latest "Faces of Distracted Driving" video.

  

In 2008, Jennifer Smith had never heard about the dangers of distracted driving.  "I didn't understand what had happened," she says. "So I got on the internet and saw that there was so much science and so much research that showed how dangerous talking on your phone while driving is."

Jennifer dedicated herself to educating others about this deadly epidemic:

"Losing someone and then finding out it was preventable, makes losing them even harder. I would like my mother’s legacy to be that people hear her story and decide their call, email or text message is never as important as someone’s life."

Linda (left) with daughter Jennifer

I applaud Jennifer for all of the work she is doing.  And I hope everyone who watches and listens as she shares the story of her mother Linda will remember to keep their attention on the road.

If you have a distracted driving experience you'd like to share, post a video on YouTube and email a link to faces@distraction.gov.

Comments

[Sophie]

Thats a horrible story...and unfortunately a good example of why phones should be prohibited while driving. As proved even if you are looking ahead and not texting you cannot concentrate correctly on what is happening ahead of you and your reflexes will be slower, it is just the same as if you had a couple drinks to many. So please, don't phone while driving...Simple way to stay alert and can avoid these kind of sad storys

[Corporate Jet Charters]

I remember being a teenager with that 'untouchable' sense about me. Young adults always seem to think 'It isn't going to happen to me' and I can remember feeling that way as a young adult. I also remember telling my own mother 'I CANNOT LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES. I HAVE TO FEEL IT MYSELF' - I certainly wish there was a magical answer as to how we can get through to our children without them having to experience it themselves.

[Asheville Photographer - Blue Bend Photography]

it's unconscionable that texting and using the phone at all is still legal. how many people have to die for this to be made illegal?!