Faces of Distracted Driving: Alison Holden, 38 "She took a lot away from me by sending that one text"

3 years ago, single-mom Ali Holden's life was on the move.  Her son was preparing for his freshman year of high school as well as playing football and lacrosse.  And, pursuing a lifelong dream, Ali was applying to get her PhD in Marine Biology to study sharks.  But it all came to a screeching halt on April 27, 2009, when Ali was involved in a 3-car pile-up caused by a distracted driver.

Ali Holden, the subject of our newest Faces of Distracted Driving video, was lucky enough to survive the crash, but she paid a steep price.

"I was instantly in pain, and I instantly had pressure in my head," she says. "And I remember thinking to myself, 'My eyes are going to pop out of my head.'"

 

The multiple physical injuries were coupled with a devastating brain injury that required years of therapy and changed Ali's life forever.  She couldn't smell or taste right; she couldn't make memories; and she often couldn't even recognize her own son.

We often talk about the number of people killed by distracted drivers, but the reality is that many more people are injured by distracted driving every day.  And even if those crashes don't end in death, they can have devastating effects. 

Just ask Ali Holden.

"I now am not able to get the degree I wanted; I am not able to pursue my PhD.  My brain just won't handle the math and the science involved anymore."

But Ali wasn't the only one to pay a price: "My son essentially lost his mom for more than a year. I was immediately unable to parent him.  I was unable to enjoy any activities with him.  And I'm his only parent."

Distracted Driving is a serious problem with a simple solution.  As Ali puts it, "Just remove the temptation altogether."  You can learn more about this deadly epidemic on our redesigned distraction.gov site.

Sign the pledge.  Share the video.  And, please, stay attentive behind the wheel.

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

[Secured Loans]

This indeed is a sad side of driving that needs to be resolved immediately, even this afternoon after all the laws exist someone almost drove into me whilst talking on the phone, surely some invention can be made that prevents a signal in a "moving vehicle" which is in close proximity to the steering wheel, thus allowing passengers to continue?

[Tim Lopez]

I'm hoping in the future, it will be federal law to prohibit texting and being on the phone when driving. How many lives have to be lost before this gets addressed? Our society has been placing too much focus on instant gratification.

[Henna]

That's a heartbreaking story, and a cautionary tale for all of us. Tell all your loved ones not to text while driving.

[Aly]

Hi there - I work for a personal injury law firm here in Houston, TX. We've seen the number of cases involving distracted driving increase significantly in the past few years. Stories like these don't have to happen. A combination of legislation, awareness and technology should help to curb the practice.

Anyhow, thanks for sharing! - Aly