Reckless driving mishaps daily

Jillian Ukropina

Not all pageant queens have a means to get their platform out there.

Ruth Stainer, however, the 2004 Miss Huntington Beach, has been given

the chance to highlight her personal platform message all around

town: “Don’t Drive Recklessly.”

With the help of two local companies, Stainer has the opportunity

to spread her positive message on more than a dozen bus shelters that

now showcase an advertisement carrying her photograph and message:

“Don’t Drive Recklessly. It’s a Road We Travel Together.”

Statistics show the commonality of reckless driving, especially

since driving is an essential part of American life. Driving is fatal

for nearly 50,000 Americans every year, according to the American

Accreditation HealthCare Commission. Male drivers between the ages of

15 and 24 have the highest rate of auto-related deaths, and

automobile accidents are a leading cause of death in infants and

children as well, the commission reports.

In Surf City alone, a handful of reckless driving reports are

logged daily.

Stainer, a recent graduate from Edison High School, was injured in

a reckless-driving accident four years ago. Her experience made her

realize “the dreadful effects of reckless driving, which inspired me

to have this platform,” she said. Ruth wanted to promote her message

to the community, but her means were limited.

Until February, when Ray Galvin, president of the local Skill

Craft Body Shop, Inc., was present at the Miss Huntington Beach

Pageant. Galvin took notice of Ruth’s message. Although his company

was sponsoring another contestant, he found her message particularly

moving and especially relevant for his repair and body business.

Considering the threat of inexperienced drivers on the road, and a

16-year-old son of his own, Galvin was motivated to aid Ruth in

distributing her safety message to the city.

“Ruth’s story moved me to try to spread the word,” Galvin said.

“There need to be more safe drivers. Too many think they’re

indestructible, and too many are injured. Too many die.”

Soon, Galvin and his body shop started a safety ad campaign. Skill

Craft Body Shop, Inc. financed the production, then Culver-Amherst,

the outdoor advertising company, donated more than 10 Huntington

Beach bus shelter locations where motorists will be reminded of the

safe driving theme throughout the next year.

On Monday, Ruth’s campaign was unveiled at the bus shelter in

front of City Hall. Officials at the Chamber of Commerce and the city

of Huntington Beach welcomed her message with loud applause.

“It’s an amazing opportunity that everyone wants to get the same

message across that I do, to prevent reckless driving,” she said.