NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — It's putting a human face to the consequences of impaired and distracted driving. So far this year, the Tennessee Highway Patrol has reported that 495 people have died on Tennessee highways. Now, a new initiative is aimed at showing the lasting effects.

"It's important to remember the fatality reports, the numbers that we get, these are people, this is someone's mom, father, daughter, son, so it's important that we never forget that," explained Stephanie Watson with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office.

An extra push on the gas, a quick look at your phone, or the decision to get behind the wheel drunk — they are decisions that changed innocent lives. Now, friends and family want to share their stories.

"It's very healing to get out to the public and talk about their loved ones that were either hurt or killed, it's very therapeutic for us, in my opinion, and it's also good for the public to hear our stories. The more that the public can really see what's happening on our roadways," Watson explained.

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office is encouraging victims and their families to sign up and share their personal experiences in an effort to help others understand the impact of their actions.

Watson, along with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), helped to develop this idea of allowing "speakers help audiences—especially young drivers, traffic offenders, and community members—understand the lasting effects that a single decision can have on victims, families, and entire communities."

In 2023, News 2 spoke with Watson about her daughter, Emily, who was sitting in the backseat as her aunt was driving. The pair was traveling back to Stephanie's home when she received a call saying they were just five minutes away. However, after 30 minutes had by and there was no sign of them, she knew something was wrong.

"It's just never-ending, and it's all because of a drunk driver, because of one man's decision to get behind the wheel drunk, that we have to plan every day out for the rest of our lives just to live a normal life," Watson said in a previous interview with News 2. "I get a phone call from my sister's phone. And a gentleman was on the other line, and it was an officer with the Clarksville police department saying your sister and daughter were just in a wreck."

Emily is now in a wheelchair, but her life has no bounds.

Watson is now hoping others will join in her goal of sharing for good.

"These were innocent people who were just trying to get home from work, or going to the store for a loved one to pick something up, that were just doing everyday normal things like you or i do, and because of someone making a poor choice, their life is forever changed," she said.

Those who have been injured on Tennessee roadways are encourage to share their stories by contacting Watson at [email protected], or filling out this form.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/tn-highway-safety-office-showing-the-lasting-effects-of-distracted-driving-through-personal-stories/