When Jamie Lynn Crandall became Miss Utah USA last October, she immediately set her sights on getting the title of Miss USA 2011. But that hasn’t been her only focus. She has dedicated her reign to educating others about the dangers of distracted driving.
In 2007, Jamie lost her good friend, 17-year-old Lauren Mulkey, to a driver who was texting behind the wheel:
"Lauren had just taken me home, and she was at an intersection nearby with a green light. Another car entered the intersection from her left. The driver had a red light for six seconds, but he was texting at the wheel and didn't see it. He wasn't even injured."
Lauren’s mother, Linda Mulkey, founded “Hang up, Save a Life” to raise awareness about America's distracted driving epidemic. "I started helping her immediately, even before the pageants," says Jamie.
"I tell them that, if they text and drive, their lives could change forever in a split second. It was so hard for me to get that phone call in the morning after I had just been with Lauren hours before. It’s really sad; I still have her green East High track team sweater that I had been wearing that night. “
Jamie also worked to get a bill passed by the Utah State Legislature against texting and driving. That law, one of the first in the U.S., became effective in 2009.
Since October, Jamie has used her title as Miss Utah USA to continue spreading her important safety message. In June, she brought Lauren’s East High sweater with her to the Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas for comfort. Although Jamie didn’t walk away with the crown, we at DOT know she’s a winner, and we thank her for her valuable service.
I dont understand why every person with a cell phone has not purchased VOICE ASSIST seriously this is your life people, this product has been out over a year and I never pick up a call or send a text in my car without using their service my life=priceless! Why Linda Mulkey and Jamie Lynn Crandall have not been out promoting a service such as this is beyond me coulda saved Laurens' life.
Posted by: Jay | July 08, 2011 at 01:37 PM
Good stuff as per usual, thanks. I do hope this kind of thing gets more exposure.
Posted by: MBT Shoes | July 09, 2011 at 02:56 AM
Bluetooth might lead to brain tumors? I know what I will do. I will keep a headset like my Web headset under the driver's seat. It has an adapter to provide hands-free use for the cell phone. I'll just buy another for my Web telephony.
That way I am ready to take a call without picking up the cell phone.
Chris Marsh
Contractor, FHWA
Alexandria VA
Guys, what do you do if you have separate personal and office cell phones? Spose I could turn off my work phone on weekends.
Posted by: Chris Marsh | July 11, 2011 at 12:54 PM
I cannot believe all the people who continually text while driving. Many people can't even handle talking on the phone while driving. My phone is always in the back seat while I'm behind the wheel.
Posted by: POSH | July 12, 2011 at 03:40 PM
Calling it an “overreach” that attempted to “micromanage the behavior of adults,” Gov. Rick Perry vetoed legislation Friday that would have banned texting while driving in Texas.
Posted by: James Cook | July 12, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Governor Perry, when adults do not act responsibly and threaten the public safety they need to be micromanaged, sanctioned, threatened, etc.
Should we toss out the DUI laws next? Driving while sleepy, while texting, while calling, while drunk or drugged, it is all rather much the same.
Posted by: Chris Marsh | July 13, 2011 at 12:06 PM
When someone calls me on the cell phone and I am driving they can darn well wait unless I am wearing headset or Bluetooth gear. I have made calls on rare occasions while driving, admittedly. I am not proud of it, I should have pulled over, I guess under the circumstances I was running late, I was on the interstate, it was easier to take my chances for 60 seconds.
Next time I will remember that my/others' life is more important than courtesy.
Posted by: Chris Marsh | July 13, 2011 at 12:13 PM
In response to jay's comment. Easy for you to question Linda, and Jamie's not promoting VOICE ASSIST. Wasn't it enough to get the bill passed by the Utah State Legislature against texting, and driving. Let's NOT forget darlin........... That law, one of the first in the U.S.
Let's see what you can do ????????? Hopefully you won't have to loose a friend from somenone else's stupidity.
Posted by: priscilla | July 14, 2011 at 08:31 PM
Thanks for bringing attention to this. Hopefully people will catch on this can be dangerous.
Posted by: DUIClear | February 02, 2012 at 04:19 AM
Great information in this article. Hopefully this can help prevent incidents on the road just as bad as a DUI.
Posted by: Taryn J. White | November 26, 2012 at 03:35 AM