Christy King’s son had just graduated high school when he was killed in a distracted driver crash and she’s telling his story in hopes of saving more lives in partnership with the National Safety Council (NSC) during Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Distracted and impaired driving as well as speeding are contributing factors to the tens of thousands of people who die in preventable crashes on U.S. roads each year, according to NSC.

King’s son is one of those deaths. He died four years ago following a crash in Williamsburg, Virginia.

“My son, Christopher, was the joy of my heart,” she said. “He was a friend to many, a beloved community member, a recent high school graduate, and we lost him in a senseless car crash that was completely preventable. Distracted driving plagues our country’s roads and took my son’s life far too soon.”

In addition to sharing her story now as part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, King said she is going to join NSC and advocates like herself who have stories similar to hers on Capitol Hill in May to urge legislators to take action.

Policies and infrastructure that support a Safe System Approach, which takes a holistic look at roadway safety, are vital to creating a safe transportation system for all, NSC said. “By examining speed management, road users, vehicles, roads, and post-crash care individuals and organizations in public and private sectors can come together to address and curb safety issues such as distracted driving.”

Mark Chung, NSC executive vice president of roadway practice, added, “Anecdotally, distracted driving is seen every day, and it’s one of the biggest contributing factors to the serious injuries and deaths that occur due to our current roadway system. Driver behavior plays a significant role, which is why distractions, such as phones, must be put away while driving. Policies and infrastructure that promote safe driving practices are also important, and as a country, it’s clear as day we need them to keep all road users safe as they go from point A to point B. Together, we can – and must – curb this deadly trend to save lives.”

NSC believes collaboration is crucial to reaching zero roadway fatalities, a goal of U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

This spring, NSC says it’s taking action to eliminate distracted driving by engaging with several key stakeholders on the issue, including meeting with federal legislators on Capitol Hill during Infrastructure Week in May.

NSC leadership, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and others will gather next week for a panel discussion on how workplaces can make a difference in the safety of those who drive to, from, and for work as well as those they share the road with.

The event will be held in person and virtually April 10 at 2:30 p.m. ET. It is open to the public. Register online to attend in person or virtually.

Driving is the leading cause of work-related death each year in the United States with nearly 40% of deaths on the job occurring on American roads, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A major contributing factor to road deaths each year, including work-related fatalities, is distracted driving.

The panel will discuss the critical role employers play in roadway safety, according to a news release. Panelists include U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas L. Parker, NSC President and CEO Lorraine Martin, Deputy Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Sophie Shulman, Michael Graham of the National Transportation Safety Board, and a representative from the private sector.

“Understanding the risks of distracted driving is critical to protecting not only workers while on the road but those around them,” Parker said in the release. “OSHA wants to make sure that employers know their responsibility to have policies in place for safe driving practices, including work practices and procedures that do not contribute to distracted driving.”

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