It may be difficult for some students to fathom what it would be like to lose someone close to them in a blink of an eye. On Wednesday, May 4, 2011, Cara Filler, a motivational speaker from a tour called The Drive to Save Lives, visited Greater Latrobe High School to speak about making the right decisions. SADD club officers, who previously viewed Filler’s presentation at a SADD convention in November, thought it would be beneficial to bring this speaker to the high school to share her personal experience.

Fifteen years ago, Cara Filler lost her twin sister Mairin in a car crash. They were typical teenagers at the time, finishing a job interview at the mall right before the crash that ended Mairin’s life. Leaving the interview, Mairin accepted a ride home with her new boyfriend. Cara was following the car home; Mairin in the passenger seat and Mairin’s boyfriend in the driver’s seat. He was going over 100 miles per hour, more than three times the speed limit when the crash occurred. The car collided into another vehicle with two elderly passengers who were injured. The oncoming car crashed into the passenger side where Mairin was seated at the time, killing her instantly. Mairin’s boyfriend escaped the demolished car with just a few minor injuries. Cara pointed out that her sister made a bad decision that day to remain in the car without getting out to protect herself, so she wants to inform students on how to make better choices when put into a life-risking situation that can be prevented. Carly Meholic, president of SADD says, “After hearing Cara speak the first time, I wanted her to come to our school because I truly thought that she could make a difference. Her story is so real and she delivers the message in a way that everyone will listen and learn something. After seeing the responses on Cara’s Facebook wall Wednesday night, I’d say that everyone seemed to like her as much as I did.”After hearing Cara speak the first time, I wanted her to come to our school because I truly thought that she could make a difference. Her story is so real but she delivers the message in way that everyone will listen and learn something. And after seeing the response on Cara’s Facebook wall Wednesday night, I’d say that everyone seemed to like her as much as I did

Cara Filler presented students with four options that could potentially save lives when dealing with speeding or drinking and driving. “When people decide to speed, drink and drive, smoke whatever it is they decide to smoke and drive anyway, or text message while they’re driving, they throw common sense out the window,” says Filler.

The first option is to not put yourself in that risk in the first place. If the situation is risky and unsafe, it is better to walk away rather than taking a chance thinking “it will never happen to me.” The second option is if you are in a situation that you should not be in the first place, get out of the car. “Speak up for yourselves,” says Filler, “Option number two is not just speaking up for yourself, but sticking your neck out for your friends.” The third option for students to choose is lying to make sure that you are safe. Any lie that you say that makes you safe is a good lie. A good lie would be saying you have to use a restroom right away just to get out of the speeding vehicle. The last option is to pick up the phone and call your parents when you need a ride or you are in a dangerous situation. Cara pointed out that teenagers in high school find it quite embarrassing to rely on their parents for a ride, but this smart choice could save lives.

Cara Filler opened up to Greater Latrobe High School students on Wednesday by sharing her personal story on the death of her sister. Car crashes are the number one cause of death for teenagers ages 15 to 20 and Cara wants to change this by sharing her life story with high school students. She taught Greater Latrobe students that there are choices and alternatives to getting into a car with a drunk driver or sitting in the passenger seat afraid to speak up while the driver is speeding. Cara Filler cares about the lives of students and wants to prevent teenagers from experiencing the pain that resulted from a bad decision that could have been prevented.