Dear Lisa,

David Townsend, Tia’s father, gave me a copy of “It’s No Accident” this spring, nearly a year after my son Dominick was hit in a Seattle crosswalk. Your book told our family’s story and the stories of so many other families of pedestrian victims – from the devastating news, to the insurance companies, to meetings with the local county and city prosecutor’s offices.

Your book helped me understand that $490 fines and no drivers education or loss of license for the drivers in these deadly crashes are the norm. That deadly crosswalks like the one where Dominick was run over frequently are left by the cities with no lights, no traffic calming, no sign of the lives lost there. Before I read your book I thought it was perhaps just our family or just Seattle and King County.

We are so blessed that Dominick lived and is recovering steadily – recovering from traumatic brain injury is a long long road. We are appalled to see all the families we know now who have lost a child or are trying so hard to restore their child after being hit by a car.

Lisa, thank you for putting together the stories and the statistics into such a powerful book. I have bought copies to give to some of our community and state leaders. I hope that your speaking schedule brings you out to Washington. I think it would be so very important for our local and state leaders to hear from you.

We need a shift of great magnitude to save our loved ones on our streets. Thank you Lisa for your on behalf of our children and communities.

Desiree Douglass
HEADSTRONG
Seattle, WA

Lisa Lewis's total command of the issues surrounding traffic safety makes this a most credible book. She is at her best when she takes unconventional stances on matters that have long been somewhat sacrosanct in this country, such as pointing out the complicity of the insurance industry in undermining traffic safety, or the federal government's role in refusing to address traffic safety issues aside from seat belts and alcohol. Likewise, she points out any number of life-saving technologies already available that the powers-that-be refuse to even consider requiring on vehicles.

It's No Accident is loaded with facts and statistics, but that's not its strong suit. Rather it's Ms. Lewis's passion for the subject -- and for the victims of the out-of-control driving culture in this country -- that leaves the reader convinced that we need to take every step possible to change our nation's attitudes toward driving.

The power of this book is the totality of it--the impact that all the stories, all the statistics, all the exposure of misinterpreted statistics, all the ostrich behavior--has to be taken in as a package. There are no "sound bites" in this book.

The book is written in a very readable style--not a research report or a textbook, but the written equivalent of a face-to-face discussion. Yet, it is full of documented facts.

Every policy maker and legislator needs to read this book. Every driver needs to read this book to become outraged enough to pressure policy makers and legislators to stop trying to simply reduce the injuries and damage of traffic crashes and start trying to prevent those crashes.

I can't find where on this site to rate the book but I give it the full six stars.

****** (six stars)

I hope people read this book, think about how they drive, and then CHANGE the way they drive. Lisa Lewis uses facts, common sense and personal stories to bring home this “lost” message: Most car crashes are NOT accidents.

I am saddened to tell you that my own daughter’s death is one of the personal stories in this book. My Kristie was an innocent victim of an unnecessary police chase where the fleeing suspect went home with her mother while I watched Kristie die! After reading Chapter 9, I turned to the “Introduction” and kept on reading.

Lisa writes with a great deal of passion and a boldness I’ve never seen before. Tears welled up in my eyes when I read about the victims: Morgan Lee, Andrew Evans, Katie and so many others. And then I became angry because of the lack of accountability and how these innocent people were summarily dismissed because they were killed in "car accidents."

When I read Lisa’s commentary about MADD, I knew just what she meant because I had had similar experiences with MADD representatives. Many innocent victims of pursuit are killed because of chases that involve drunk drivers, so I contacted MADD. First I tried MADD's Sacramento office and then their Texas office. I tried to find a representative who was interested enough in these types of police chases to answer one question: What is MADD’s official recommendation regarding police chases to catch drunk drivers? Calls were not returned and after many attempts to contact someone who could help me, I finally realized that MADD was not interested. All I wanted to do was follow MADD’s recommendation and post it on the KristiesLaw Web site.

Candy Priano
Chico, California

I ordered three books from the vendor and
requested that my order be mailed by federal express (it was a cost of $14.00). They indicated that I would receive the books on the following Tuesday and I did. I was pleased with the service. I would like to compliment you for a book that is well written. I have not looked at car safety as much from the crash prevention but from crash mitigation. You are so on target. The book needs to be read by many, I am trying to encourage everyone I know to read it. I have about
twenty pages left. I can feel your frustration....... and I really agreed at how you look at MADD it is not only drinking but it is speed,following too close and of course those cell phones users. I will be sending your organization more money by the end of the week ( I made a pledge of 50.00)./ MADD should listen to all of the accidents included fatal ones that happen everyday in the morning as people are going to work......... they are not drinking they are speeding if you could only get you a guest spot on the Oprah show or sixty minutes........
Lisa I really admire what you are doing and I agree with your book.......... it is great and it helps me to continue to articulate my position when it comes to highway safety and the creep factor.I always tell people about the 43,000 killed on the roads and that the real terrorists are these drivers out here. I also was surprise that someone
has their love one killed in a car accident and receives a large settlement and does not want to use some of the money for organizations like yours. Please don't give up........... we need to get Bill Gates to
throw a few crumbs your way... great job!!!

that someone wrote about the MAJOR problems of the roads that have been killing people for many years, that has been overlooked because it was " JUST AN ACCIDENT" I found the book very interesting on ALL the facts, especially about how our GOVERMENT is turning their backs on the Victims that have been killed / hurt by Negligent driving, the hazardous drivers and vehicles, the laws and the facts that there needs to be more then MADD out there, for people that are MAD but have nobody to listen to them. Maybe now someone will ! Thank you for speaking on behalf of them!
This book has opened my eyes to what has been swooped under the carpet for such a very long time. BRAVO!

A much-needed, thoughtful and comprehensive analysis of public policy regarding traffic safety. Though Ralph Nader's UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED was useful in its day, the misguided pursuit of "safe crashing" since then has wasted resources and effort that would be better spent on technology, enforcement, and education to prevent crashes in the first place. I don't need anyone to buckle me up, rather, I need a policy that will slow others down. Safe crashing only saves crash dummies!

This is intelligent, gutsy, and sure to make a lot of people mad. Even MADD may be mad. This is a bold book that could end up saving lives.

Shockingly honest. I'm so used to the politically correct media, this book was refreshing and informative. The next presidential candidates better read it!

This book is a very nuanced discussion of the problems of road safety. The author challenges the government, the insurance industry, the auto industry, the media, the motorists, and even Mothers Against Drunk Driving to defend the outrageous and immoral behavior that we're seeing on the roads today -- and the degree to which they are contributing to it. It is a no-holds barred expose that reveals the hard truths about behaviors and policies that put innocent people at risk on the roads.

The personal stories, while tragic, are well documented and help illustrate the technical and moral issues involved. Overall, much more than I expected for a book about road safety.