Grapevine, TX woman takes message against distracted driving to the United Nations [View All]

[Ed Barrow]

Jennifer Smith took her battle against distracted driving to the world stage Wednesday.

The Grapevine resident, who has already traveled around the country raising awareness about the dangers of texting and talking behind the wheel, pushed her message at the United Nations in New York, imploring drivers around the world to focus on the road.

"This is not even just an American problem," she said. "It is a human problem affecting the entire world. Across the entire globe, we are losing mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, friends, grandparents and loved ones."

Smith, president and co-founder of a national advocacy group, FocusDriven, spoke alongside U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other leaders at a news conference billed as the launch of a global effort to end distracted driving. Ban announced a new directive banning more than 40,000 U.N. staff members from texting while driving on the job.

"Together, we have a message to all drivers of the world: Don't let using a mobile for a few seconds make you and others immobile for life," he said.



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