To celebrate the publication and national release of Not So Fast, about 150 family, friends, and the Connecticut traffic safety community gathered at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church.  It was a fabulous and poignant event.  TV personality and commentator Duby McDowell acted as Master of Ceremonies.  Senior Minister Matt Laney of Asylum Hill welcomed the crowd, after which Garry Lapidus, Director of the Injury Prevention Center at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, discussed teen driving from the public health perspective.  Pam Fischer, Leader of the New Jersey Safe Teen Driving Coalition, and a national leader in the education of parents of teen drivers, was the keynote speaker.  She spoke about policy and education, but also her personal wrenching experiences as the current parent of a teen driver.  Barnes & Noble was on hand to sell books.

In my remarks at the end of the event, with Reid’s photo behind me — decorated with balloons — I noted that one of the greatest motivations for a parent like me is “the hope that our child did not die in vain,” and I noted that “Looking out at this scene tonight, I think I can say with assurance that this has now been arranged.”

My thanks to all who attended.