Twenty-two young people who were facing distracted driving charges heard first-hand from a crash survivor about why they need to put down their phones while behind the wheel.
Melody Battle made an emotional plea Saturday at an info session in Calgary, urging drivers to put their phones away when they’re driving after what happened to her.
Battle was running late for work one morning three years ago. So, while driving north of Calgary, she texted her boss to let her know.
When Battle looked up, it was too late. She crashed into a road grader, her life forever changed by a brain injury and vision loss.
“It’s torn it apart. It’s made my life quite awful,” Battle said.
Those taking part in the event, hosted by the RCMP and Alberta Traffic Sheriffs, said it scared them into changing their behavior.
Now, 22-year-old Battle and her family hope to change other people’s lives.
Every single person at the info sessions was facing distracted driving charges.
READ MORE: Albertans facing increased traffic fines
Battle’s dad Stephen still gets angry when he sees people on their phones while driving.
“I get enraged. I get really angry. But then, by watching them, I’m distracted. So there is nothing I can do but what I am doing now,” he said.
For Battle’s parents, spreading the word about the dangers of distracted driving has become their life goal.
“I am so proud of her. For a girl who couldn’t walk, talk, or speak afterwards, to watch her up there, I’m probably the luckiest, believe it or not, the luckiest dad alive.”
The final part of the three-hour session put the offenders in the driver’s seat. They drove go-carts, driving laps with – and without – cell phones.
“I found it super impactful. I was trying to hold back tears the whole time. It’s tragic,” Hailey McLellan said. “One hundred per cent I am coming out of this like – no more phone. It scares me.”
In exchange for choosing ‘Option Four’ (going to the info sessions on distracted driving), the drivers will avoid the $287 distracted driving fine. A small consequence compared to what Battle and her family were sentenced to.
“You can talk on your cell all day and nobody seems to stop people from talking. So stop your friends from talking on the cell. There’s nothing coming over that phone that’s more important than your life, your friends, your family and that is really what is at stake,” Stephen said.
This is the first time the Option Four Program has been tried and the first time Battle has spoken to a group about her story. She plans to go to Alberta high schools to bring her tragic message there too.
Since Jan. 1, 2016, distracted drivers in Alberta face three demerit points, plus the $287 fine.