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Pleasant Valley students told to 'Hang Up and Drive'

In May 2008, on what should have been one of the best days of her life, Jacy Good lost both of her parents and almost lost her life as well.

"I had graduated from Muhlenberg University that morning, we had a nice lunch with my boyfriend's family and we were on our way home, a drive we had made a hundred times," said Jacy Good, founder of Hang Up and Drive."A young man, an 18-year-old high school senior, was talking on this phone and made a left-hand turn through a red light. A tractor-trailer swerved to avoid him and hit our station wagon head-on."Good lost both her parents that day and spent the next four months in hospitals and rehabilitation centers."We had our lives planned out. When I left to go back to New York I knew I would be seeing Jacy in a few weeks," Steve Johnson said. "That evening around 5 I got a call from Jacy's phone, it was a hospital chaplain. It was a few hours before I knew she was alive. We packed our bags and headed out."Johnson spent the next four months by Good's side, experiencing every victory and setback with her. Today the couple works together tirelessly to bring their message not only to high school students and corporate America, but the world.Good said the couple has brought their program to 32 states. Good has spoken at the United Nations addressing the distracted driving epidemic that is prevalent on every continent.In 2010, Good got nationwide exposure when she appeared with Oprah Winfrey's "No Phone Zone" episode. Johnson says that they appear at approximately 130 events per year."I particularly love speaking with high school students," Good said. "I'm just a big kid myself and I want them to think of me as their friend."Good is as good as her word she concludes her discussion by inviting the kids to join her on Facebook and other social media sites."I give you permission to say, 'This happened to a friend of mine.' " Good tells the students.Good and Johnson both discuss the ripple effect."What you do affects everyone around you, and the decisions you make can change someone else's life," Good said. "That boy's decision certainly changed my life, and I know he lives with that every day."Johnson put it even better."You will never know if deciding not to text or pick up your phone saved anyone's life, but you sure as hell will know it if you are on your phone and you end someone's life."Johnson also talked about the importance of empowerment."We want these kids to feel safe to tell whoever is driving, a friend or even a parent, 'put down your phone, I don't feel safe.' "Lack of LawsOne of Good's biggest frustrations comes from the lack of good laws related to distracted driving. Pennsylvania did pass a "no texting" law, but the law is narrow and difficult to enforce. Hang Up and Drive will continue to fight for stricter laws related to the subject of cellphone use."It is not just texting, but there is scientific data which proves that the brain cannot 'multitask,' " said Johnson. "A person who is talking, even hands free, does not see as much as someone who is not on the phone."Good suggests the use of apps that send messages to the caller indicating that you cannot take the call because you are driving. Better yet, she suggests putting your phone in the glove compartment when you are driving.Good and Johnson are available for speaking engagements and can be contacted through the website for Hang Up and Drive. Their fees are usually covered by grants or insurance companies.The couple was brought to Pleasant Valley High School by Nina Woodling, Coordinator of the Monroe County Community Safety Program and Pocono Medical Center.Nadine Sheller, co-adviser to the high school's chapter of Students Against Drunk Driving, said the chapter brings in two to three speakers per year. The group also puts on a volleyball tournament in December and tries to do something monthly to remind students of the dangers of drinking and driving."Pocono Medical Center is dedicated to working with the schools in Monroe County to bring awareness to the dangers of driving," said Geoffrey Roche, director of Community and Government Relations at PMC.Roche said later this year a driving simulator will give students the opportunity to experience what can happen with impaired or distracted driving.According to Roche the simulator goes through not only the crash, but also the emergency response, the police response and the legal and insurance issues that may come about as a result of the incident.In conclusion Good said, "This was not an accident, this was a conscious decision that was made on that day that changed my life forever. I need to be alive, I need to stop this from happening to anyone else."

Jacy Good and Steve Johnson, founders of Hang Up and Drive, the couple travels the country telling the story of how Jacy nearly lost her life because of a driver talking on his cellphone. The couple spoke to seniors and juniors at Pleasant Valley High School on Thursday. JUDY DOLGOS-KRAMER/TIMES NEWS