CATA Member Ellen Hobbs Hirshman Presenting on Distracted Driving

The students were very attentive and vocal in discussing the daily hazards they confront when driving or travelling as a passenger with a distracted driver.

They were especially impacted by the video testimonials from teenagers who have caused the death of others because they made a selfish choice to drive distracted.

The students agreed to take home the Family Safe Driving Agreement to discuss the issue further with their parents and siblings.  Together we can change the face of driving in this country.

Check out all the photos from the event on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ClevelandTrialAttorneys/

On September 14, 2016, Ellen Hobbs Hirshman and Paul Grieco, both board members of CATA and OAJ, were invited to speak at Villa Angela St. Joseph’s High School (VASJ).

More than 440 VASJ students joined in the discussion about how we all need to make a conscious effort to NOT drive distracted, as well as not permitting someone to drive distracted when we are traveling as a passenger in a car.  Ellen shared that when she entered her senior year at Villa Angela, a classmate was killed in a drunk driving incident and how the loss is forever in her memory.

Distracted Driving is now responsible for more car accidents and deaths than drunk driving.  Together we can make a difference, teach folks to make safer driving choices and help make the roads a safer place to travel.

Ellen Hirshman presenting to Villa Angela St. Joseph’s High School students on distracted driving, September 14, 2016.

Today’s presentation to these 7^th-11^th grade students was well received.  These students learned that although we may never have been in a car accident, if we drive distracted, we are merely lucky drivers.  The audience was also impressed with the concept that they can help change their friends’ behavior by engaging in discussions about their driving habits.  Also, as a passenger, you possess the power to affect another person’s driving behavior.  Two students assisted me in a “role playing” exercise where one student took on the role of the distracted driver, and the other student was the passenger, trying to effectively change the dangerous driving habits of her friend.

The demonstration was a wonderful illustration and reminder that we are confronted with these behaviors every day and it is time to stand up and choose to not permit someone to drive you distracted.  In the end, the students left with a lot of information and statistics to digest.  They promised to take the Family Safe Driving Agreement home to discuss with their families.

Over these past 2 years, CATA has been responsible for more than 20 presentations, and will continue to sponsor these presentations.  It is our belief that we can make a difference and change people’s attitudes toward driving and make them safe drivers, not just lucky drivers!

The young men were impacted by the message that the many deaths and injuries attributable to distracted driving are preventable. They understand that we each need to make safer choices about how we drive and how we permit others to drive when we are traveling as a passenger.

The students also received a copy of the Family Safe Driving Agreement, which they will take home to discuss with their families.

We CAN make a difference about the choices people make when driving. Together we can prevent further injuries and deaths.

Please comment below, or check out this post on Facebook, to let us know what you think, or if you would like more information: www.facebook.com/ClevelandTrialAttorneys.

An astonishing 54% of kids in greater Cleveland live in poverty, the second highest amount of any big city. CATA knows that reaching out and helping these children is just one way to make a difference and assist those in need. In fact, one of the teachers at the event on Monday thanked CATA for appreciating the fact that every day there are families in Cleveland struggling to make ends meet. Juggling their limited funds is especially difficult during this holiday season. We were reminded that providing these children with brand new shoes, boots and socks is not only appreciated, but necessary. One of the moms in attendance at the event thanked CATA personally telling us that her children were in desperate need of new boots. The smiles on the faces of the children is thanks enough!

I, along with CATA President Kathy St. John, and CATA board member Todd Gurney, had a blast assisting all the children as they were measured for the correct shoe size, picked out a pair of shoes or boots that appealed to them (action figures were in high demand) and tried on their new shoes and boots. The children were also given new pairs of socks, followed by a snack. CATA will be sponsoring a 2nd giveaway event during the Christmas break at which time they will be providing new shoes and boots for another 50 school-aged children. It is so rewarding to give back to our community.

Below are just a few of the photos from the event.  Check out the CATA Facebook Page for the rest!

The Cleveland Academy of Trial Attorneys and I were invited to present the End Distracted Driving program www.enddd.org at Our Lady of the Elms in Akron, Ohio yesterday afternoon, October 27, 2015.  The 200 students (7^th graders through 12^th graders) and faculty were profoundly moved by the testimonials and data contained in the presentation.

The students will be taking home the Family Safe Driving Agreement to discuss safer choices to make when driving and when being driven.

CATA is making a difference and changing the way people drive!

To see all the photos of the event, visit the CATA Facebook Page.

See photos from the presentation on the CATA Facebook Page.

Today I gave an End Distracted Driving presentation with CATA members Steve Crandall and Paul Grieco.  We reached 135 high school students in Pepper Pike, Ohio at Fuchs Mizrachi. The students were very receptive to the message that we all must make a choice to drive responsibly. The students left the presentation with a lot to think about and hopefully will choose to alter the way they drive and counsel others to stop driving distracted.  YES WE CAN!

@end_dd @CleveTrialAttys @SafeDriveHome @OAJustice End Distracted Driving presentation today Fuchs Mizrachi School pic.twitter.com/4Z1ms4ZAtV

— Ellen Hobbs Hirshman (@ellenhobbs) March 27, 2015

A full room at Hawken School for the EndDD presentation by CATA president Ellen Hobbs Hirshman and CATA board member Dana Paris.

On January 22, 2015, CATA board member Dana Paris and I presented on the dangers of distracted driving to approximately 450 students and faculty at Hawken School in Gates Mills, Ohio. The presentation was in partnership with End Distracted Driving (www.EndDD.org), which organization provides engaging an tested materials to communicate the dangers of distracted driving to teens.  This is part of CATA’s Community Outreach program, which does pro bono, public service events in the Northeast Ohio community.

CATA board member Dana Paris starting the Faces of Distracted Driving section of the presentation, where students meet the victims–and perpetrators–in devastating distracted driving related crashes.

The audience was receptive to the scientific data and testimonials contained in the presentation. The audience acknowledged that their parents are the worst offenders and left the presentation with a renewed commitment to attempt to adopt safer driving habits. The audience also learned that even as a passenger, there are habits we may adopt to ensure that all drivers and passengers on the road are not motoring distracted.

CATA board member Dana Paris showing the three types of distractions–manual, visual, and cognitive–at play when texting and driving.

CATA partnered with Joel Feldman and The End Distracted Driving campaign last year as its attempt to reach out into the northeast Ohio community and truly make a difference. “Our goal is to educate as many people as possible, to alter their approach to driving and hopefully bring an end to the unnecessary deaths which are caused by distracted driving”.

CATA President Ellen Hobbs Hirshman tossing out CATA / EndDD bracelets to Hawken students participating in the EndDD presentation.

In addition to Hawken School, CATA’s Community Outreach Committee has already made presentations at Shaker Heights High School, MLK High School, the Hospice of the Western Reserve, and are scheduled to present at Chagrin Falls High School and other area schools in the upcoming months.

Ellen in the crowd during the presentation.

If you have questions, comments, or would like to request a presentation for your school or organization, please comment below.

Ellen discussing the dangers of distracted driving we all see every day: using phones, applying makeup, changing music.