SOMERS, N.Y. – Students and families at Somers High School received a powerful and emotional lesson in the dangers of distracted driving during the annual “Hang Up and Drive” presentation on April 14.

Organized by the Somers High School PTSA, the program brought together students from the Class of 2027 and Class of 2028 along with their parents for an evening focused on one central message: every decision behind the wheel matters.

Fabiana Hershfield, chair of the school’s Driver Safety Committee, opened the event with a deeply personal story. A survivor of a serious car crash in her native Brazil, Hershfield recalled how a single decision – to get into a car with a driver who had been drinking – changed the course of her life.

“Moments like that force you to confront how one choice can change everything,” she said. “This message isn’t just important – it’s life-saving.”

The evening’s speakers reinforced that theme of choice from multiple perspectives.

Somers Town Justice Michael McDermott, who has served the community for more than two decades, spoke candidly about what he has witnessed in the courtroom. Addressing students directly, he emphasized that the program was not meant to frighten, but to prepare them.

“Everything comes down to an element of choice,” McDermott said. “Sometimes the right decision isn’t easy – but it’s the one that can save a life.”

He shared a story relayed by a state trooper about a teenage driver who survived a crash, only to realize he would have to tell his best friend’s family that he was responsible for his death – an example that left a lasting impression on the audience.

New York State Trooper Dariela Lora followed with a firsthand account of the realities officers face on the road. Drawing from her experience responding to crashes, Lora explained that many of the most devastating incidents are preventable.

“Some of the worst things I’ve responded to didn’t happen because of weather or mechanical failure,” she said. “They happened because of choices – looking at a phone, speeding, or getting into a car with someone who shouldn’t be driving.”

Lora presented real crash examples from the region, including fatal and near-fatal incidents, underscoring how quickly situations can turn tragic. She also reminded students that responsibility extends beyond the driver.

“As a passenger, you have the right to speak up,” she said. “You can help save a life.”

The program’s keynote speakers, Jacy Good and Steve Johnson, delivered the most emotional portion of the evening, sharing a deeply personal story that has become the foundation of their national advocacy work.

The couple met in college and were preparing to begin their lives together after graduation in 2008 when everything changed. Just hours after receiving her diploma, Good was involved in a catastrophic crash caused by a distracted driver who was talking on his phone. The collision claimed the lives of both of her parents and left Good with severe, life-threatening injuries.

She was given only a 10 percent chance of survival.

Johnson recalled the moment he learned of the crash and the uncertainty that followed, while Good later described her long and difficult recovery, which included months of hospitalization and rehabilitation.

Despite surviving, Good was left with permanent physical and cognitive challenges. But in the years since, the couple has turned tragedy into advocacy.

Through their “Hang Up and Drive” initiative, they have spoken to more than 500,000 people at over 1,800 events nationwide, sharing their story to encourage safer driving habits and push for stronger awareness around distracted driving.

Their message goes beyond texting behind the wheel. Citing research, they explained that even hands-free phone use significantly reduces a driver’s attention, making them far more likely to crash.

“There’s really no safe way to use a phone while driving,” they emphasized.

Good also spoke about her efforts to push for stronger distracted driving laws, including advocacy work in Pennsylvania, where legislation banning handheld phone use was eventually passed years after her crash.

Throughout the presentation, one idea remained constant: distracted driving is not an accident – it is a choice.

By the end of the evening, students and parents were left with more than statistics or warnings. They were left with real stories, real consequences, and a clear call to action.

As Hershfield reminded attendees at the start of the program, every time someone gets behind the wheel, they are making decisions – not just for themselves, but for everyone on the road.

The goal of the “Hang Up and Drive” presentation is simple but urgent: to ensure those decisions are the right ones.