COOL

MOST OFFENSIVE: Drive stupid, and score some kickin' new wheels.

2010-08-05T16:42:00.000-07:00

DontDriveStupid.com ZeroFatalities.com
Nothing’s cooler than the day you get your driver’s license. But as soon as you start driving stupid, it’s not so cool anymore. Texting, using your iPod, racing, thay all fall under the category of stupid. And dangerous. So before you get behind the wheel and try to prove how cool you are, here’s a little harsh reality: Nothing kills more Utah teens than auto crashes. Not fazed? Okay, how does the thought of spending the rest of your life in wheelchair grab you? Look, every year far too many Utah teens go from cool to crippled in a blink of an eye. So if you are one of those drivers who think they have something to prove, you can start shopping for your wheelchair now. Any hey, if you think that‘s harsh, wait until the day you roll it into school.

Our response to the sponsors of the Don't Drive Stupid Campaign

2010-08-05T15:16:00.000-07:00

The boy in the poster appears to have sustained a spinal cord injury from a motor vehicle accident and now uses a wheelchair for mobility. We all agree that this result is an unfortunate and also undesirable occurrence. What we object to and are in fact highly critical of is the stated and implied message conveyed.

"cool to crippled" is the exact text and message sent to America's youth. Without qualification, readers are told that if you use a wheelchair for mobility you are nothing but a "cripple", and therefore the exact opposite of all things "cool".

"wait until the day you roll it [your wheelchair] into school" is the final sentence. America's impressionable youth is now told that the end all of tragedy and social ostracization is the simple act of "going to school in a wheelchair".

These statements and the photograph are a slap in the face to the estimated 5,600,000 Americans living in the US with some type of paralysis. They are an insult to the millions of Americans that use wheelchairs for mobility. They are cruel and defeating words to the thousands of young soldiers who have been permanently wounded from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and now hope to lead productive and fulfilling lives.

As people who use wheelchairs every day, we stand against this negative characterization of ourselves and our lives. We defy its defeatist message. We give our support and encouragement to anyone who through accident, disease, or otherwise uses a wheelchair whether it be for a single day or for a lifetime.

2010-01-26T08:25:00.001-08:00

Erik Kondo - Entrepreneur, Martial Artist, Founder NOT-ME.ORG, Father of three

2009-08-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

Stan Clawson - Film Producer

2009-08-05T14:35:00.000-07:00

Muffy Davis- Motivational Speaker, Paralympic Medalist, World Adventurer

2009-08-04T06:10:00.000-07:00

Erik Bayindirli , Diamond Setter/Goldsmith, Inventor, 2006 Paralympian and US Ski Team

2009-08-03T11:31:00.000-07:00

Steve Pento - MMA Trainor

2009-08-02T12:58:00.000-07:00

Scott Graves - IT Pro and Thrill Seeker

2009-08-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

Dave Estrada - Boston police spokeman

2009-07-31T13:07:00.000-07:00

Jeff Adams – Paralympic champion

2009-07-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

H'Sien Hayward - Humanitarian worker, Harvard doctoral student, Model

2009-07-29T14:58:00.000-07:00

Scott Tyson - Motorcylist

2009-07-29T06:19:00.000-07:00

Teal Sherer - Actress

2009-07-28T18:51:00.000-07:00

Kit Nugent - G Man, Biker

2009-07-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

Bob Nichol - Business Owner

2009-07-25T17:15:00.000-07:00

Dale Elliott - Motivational Speaker, Licensed Skydiver

2009-07-24T05:53:00.000-07:00

Barry Germain- Custom trike builder/rider, Paraglider, Family man

2009-07-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

Professirx - Musician & Santina Muha - Ms. Wheelchair NJ

2009-07-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

Michael Paul - Competitive Tennis Player

2009-07-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

Riccardo Pavero - Quality Manager, Traveler

2009-07-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

Bob Vogel - Writer, Adventurer

2009-07-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

Erik Corbett - Ski Instructor, Program Director

2009-07-18T06:36:00.000-07:00

Kyle Massey - Competive Athlete, Student

2009-07-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

Marcus Causton - Competitive Tennis Player, Student

2009-07-16T18:08:00.000-07:00

Auti Angel - Dancer, Singer

2009-07-15T05:30:00.000-07:00

Kelly Brush - Non-profit Founder, Student

2009-07-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

Chris Waddell - Paralympic Champion, Adventurer, Speaker

2009-07-13T05:25:00.000-07:00

Tammy Wilber - Advocate, Writer

2009-07-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Brent Combs - Therapeutic Recreation Specialist/Adventurer

2009-07-11T18:02:00.000-07:00

Erika Bogan - Ms. Wheelchair America, Speaker, Mother of three

2009-07-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

James Hektner – Traveler, Motivator, Active Sportsman

2009-07-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

Tiffany Carlson - Dating columnist, Podcast host

2009-07-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

Christiaan Bailey - Chairskater, Surfer

2009-07-07T18:12:00.000-07:00

Paul Stares - Familyman, World Record Breaker, Mechanic

2009-07-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

Alyson Roth - Surfer, Motivational Speaker, Author, Philanthropist, Ms. Wheelchair California

2009-07-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

Tricia Downing - Triathlete, Keynote speaker, Graduate student

2009-07-04T19:11:00.000-07:00

Michelle Colvard - Research Manager, former Ms. Wheelchair America 2009, Indy Fan, Autocross racer

2009-07-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

Erica Davis - Triathlete, Motivational Speaker, and Adventure Seeker

2009-07-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

Jón Gunnar Benjamínsson - Adventurer

2009-07-02T10:01:00.000-07:00

Clay Egan - Professional Rockcrawler, Athlete, Author, Motivator and Speaker

2009-07-01T08:02:00.000-07:00

Brad Zdanvisky - Mountain Climber

2009-06-01T16:52:00.000-07:00