Submitted October 21, 2006 to The News-Gazette in response to several letters about the bicycling accident.

Chuck & Gloria Wilhelm
1047 Leoville
Bourbonnais, IL 60914
815-932-6793 (home)
217-359-6793 (cell)
chaswilhelm@yahoo.com

To The Editor:

We ARE getting through this, but we will NOT stop and we will NOT go away.  Too many people have been deeply affected and have promised to help us.  We have contacted researchers, insurance companies, and local and state officials.

According to researchers, "hand's-free and hand-held cell phones reveal similar driver performance and, use of a hand's free cell phone during simulated driving results in more degraded driving performance and more accidents than driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%" - the legal limit.

Some state and governmental agencies, and even private industries already ban cell phones while driving due to liability issues.  Meanwhile, automakers are currently implementing technology to check email while driving.

The Trooper and the Coroner said Matt did NOTHING wrong, yet his life ended so others might have cell phone freedom.  Many community leaders have told us the community is absolutely outraged.  We agree!   We thank the many supportive people who have already pledged to stop using cell phones while driving.

We are currently working on a responsible and safe driving campaign.  Please contact us directly if you wish to be involved in our effort to save lives.