We are supporting the Think Mobile Phone Campaign launched by Greater Manchester safer roads. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the risk of using mobile phones and handheld devices when driving. 

This time last year I was celebrating with family and friends at Neeve’s Gender reveal.  That day I felt like the happiest and proudest man on earth.  It was Franki’s idea to have the gender reveal. I wasn’t overly keen on the idea at first.  For selfish reasons I wanted the moment of finding out the gender of our first child together to be our special moment.

Franki being Franki made me realise that we should be celebrating our happiest moment with the people who we loved.

I am thankful that I listened to her. Even though things have turned out the way they did. The gender reveal will always be one our happiest moments we shared together.

No loss or tragedy can overshadow the special memories that I have of that day.  Finding out we were having a daughter together Neeve made our life our family complete.

We had found our peace in each other.

A year later on this special day. I have been campaigning with Safer Roads Greater Manchester. It is the launch of distractions mobile phone ‘Touch screen’ campaign.

It is part of Greater Manchester vision zero strategy to reduce serious injuries and road deaths in Greater Manchester to zero by the year 2040. A very ambitious but necessary target.

Even if we stop 1 person it will be worthwhile. The impact that one person caused on my life, Frankie’s sons and our family’s lives is devastating.

My message is simple.

‘Do not touch your phone or handheld device whilst you are driving.’

It take minutes to find somewhere safe to pull over and only a split second to be distracted miss a hazard and take somebody life. The campaign is something that I am passionate to support.

In Frankie’s case the driver was using his mobile phone in an extreme way. Speeding reaching speeds of 123mph whilst filming himself. Their are also many other case less extreme in nature but ending with the same catastrophic results. Serious life changing injuries or loss off life.

People take it for granted how dangerous it is taking your eyes off the road, doing something simple checking a text message or selecting their favorite song from a playlist.

That is all it takes.

Nobody thinks they will cause a serious collision or plans too. But it happens and the impact is devastating. I don’t want to end on sad note. I wore my shirt today for the first time since the reveal.

I know Frankie and Neeve will be happy and smiling that I found a worthy cause to wear it for again.