A Georgia woman who nearly lost her life in a distracted driving crash is working to warn others about the dangers of distracted driving. 

Molly Welch was an undergraduate journalism student at Auburn University when she crashed her car on I-85 and collided head-on into an oncoming truck. 

On February 9, 2008, then 21-year-old Welch was approaching the I-85 exit for Auburn University when she began to reach around her car to retrieve a voice recorder with interviews that she wanted to listen to. 

She was attempting to search for the recorder when she veered across the interstate and crashed head-on into a truck. Welch entered a coma and sustained severe traumatic brain injuries, forcing her to relearn how to walk, talk, and live.

“Life changes in a second,”  Welch told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. “I lost an entire decade to therapy. I didn’t want anyone else to have to go through what I’ve been through.”

13 years later, Welch is the founder of the nonprofit A Second Later, an organization that works to warn others about the dangers of distracted driving and encourage safe driving practices. 

Welch typically spends her time facilitating public speaking events at schools and churches, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to change her strategy. 

Now, Welch has created a line of bumper stickers and magnets encouraging drivers to “Keep Your Eyes on the Road.” 

The magnets come in various colors and can be purchased on Welch’s GoFundMe. 

Sign Hunter’s Pledge to End Distracted Driving

Hunter’s Pledge was designed to encourage drivers to commit to safe driving habits.

Since 2016, tens of thousands of drivers have signed the pledge and permanently changed their driving behaviors.

Studies show that signing a pledge can dramatically and permanently change behaviors. In fact, 55 percent of people who sign Hunter’s Pledge have changed their driving behavior. 

Click here to sign the pledge.

Hunter’s Fund

Hunter’s Fund honors the life of Hunter Watson, a young man of extremely diverse talents who was killed at 20-years-old when he was fatally injured as a passenger in a distracted driving collision.

Through distracted driving education and awarding grants to help young people’s involvement in performing arts, music, computer science, and entrepreneurship, Hunter’s Fund empowers young people in their careers and keeps Hunter’s spirit alive.

Does your fraternity or organization want to get involved with Hunter’s Pledge? Click here for more information, or contact Natalie Kwon natalie@hunterwatson.org.