Faces of Distracted Driving: Miss South Dakota

Ever since the start of the anti-distracted driving campaign sometime last year, we've seen all types of manifestations of the push to rid the nation of what Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called an epidemic. The most shocking of {aad}them all is, at least from the emotional impact point of view, the Faces of Distracted Driving.

Devised as a sort of “see what can happen to you” campaign, Faces of Distracted Driving brings together the people who have come face to face with the effects of the epidemic and allows them to tell the world their stories through a web-based video series.

Today, a new Face joined the program. Loren Vaillancourt, the current Miss South Dakota, who lost her brother to the actions of a distracted driver. Sponsored by insurance company State Farm, Miss South Dakota began trekking the US and telling anybody who listens what distracted driving can do to them and others.

"I applaud Loren for the work she is doing as Miss South Dakota and in conjunction with State Farm to raise awareness about the deadly cost of distracted driving," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

"I hope that everyone who hears Loren speak about the tragic loss of her brother, Kelson, will remember to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 2009 Motor Vehicles Crashes Report, a total of 5,474 lives were lost in 2009 due to distracted driving, with the number of people injured as a result of such crashes reaching 448,000.