Dear Friends - Adults and Kids Alike,

My name is Brian Miller, I am writing this article to increase awareness about a life or death topic affecting almost all of us; and hopefully prevent what happened to me and my family from happening to yours. The life or death topic I am referring to is teen driving safety.

Did you know that GONE are the days of:

• Schools offering Driver’s Education as part of the standard curriculum for free
• Squirming in the driver’s seat as the state trooper jots notes on his dreaded clipboard while muttering, “Please make a three-point turn for me , son” as you take your driving test
• The school district directing any money towards formal instruction that would keep our kids safe behind the wheel

Those days are GONE. Here’s our reality TODAY:

• 6,500 teenagers lose their lives behind the wheel every year I the U.S.
• 6 out of 10 teenagers will be in an injury accident in the first 18 months of driving
• Texas has the most teenage traffic deaths than any other state
• You, my fellow parents, will have to spend between $200 - $600 for your kids to learn to drive from a professional
• Teens no longer have to face the state trooper to prove they should be behind the wheel of an automobile….That’s right. Driving tests are no longer required to get your license!
• Drivers Education is an after school program for those who choose to attend.

Friends, I’m sharing these statistics with you because on June 13, 2008, my beautiful daughter Abby did not have the driving experience she needed at age 17. Late one evening, after school had let out for the summer, a deer, standing in the middle of a dark highway caused her to swerve and lose control of the new vehicle I had just purchased for her. Subsequently, we lost her that night.

In Abby’s memory, I have founded The Abby Miller Foundation (a nonprofit corporation). Our goal is to enhance driving education programs by helping high schools, around the country, have the ability to instruct new driver’s though the use of driving simulators. These simulators will help teach our kids how to react and properly avoid all the hazards that we face on our roads daily. Out of all the teenagers that lose their lives in car accidents each year, 76% of those are due to inexperience.

Through out the year we have multiple fundraising event to raise funds to purchase driving simulators, Raise awareness, Change laws and build scholarships. As of today, a little more than one year since Abby passed, we have raised enough money to purchase six driving simulators at a cost of $13,000 each. We are also raising funds to lobby local, state, and federal government to put Driver’s Education back into our schools as part of the daily curriculum.

Information about fundraising events can be found on line at abbymillerfoundation.org.

We are still accepting sponsorships and grants for the events. You may also reach me at 610 444 9115 or brian@abbymillerfoundation.org