Driven: Hannah Thorne's mother speaks for first time during special broadcast

Hannah Thorne is more than a statistic in an annual report on trafficdeaths.

She wasGail Thorne'sdaughter, and a best friend to Heidi and Kylie Jackson. She was goofy,happy and full of life.

On Thursday evening, Hannah Thorne's story was a central part of CBC'sspecial evening broadcast, Driven. Her story, along with the stories of other victims, came together with messages from first responders, safety experts and young drivers.

Their goal was to spread awareness of road safety and the dangers of distracted driving.

A heartbroken mothershares her story publiclyfor the first time

"Well, Hannah was my daughter. I have to speak for her," Thornesaidthrough deep breaths. "Other times, I was too emotional to talk. I think it's time for me to speak out."

Gail Thorne describes losing daughter on CBC Driven

8 years ago

Duration 2:17

Gail Thorne describes losing her daughter

Hannah, 18, a recent graduate of Crescent Collegiate, was killed in July. She was driving with her grandmother, not far from her home in New Harbour when they were struck by a car crossing into their lane.

Two men face charges of street racing causing death in connection to the crash.

STAND for Hannah

"One of the things I told my mom after Hannah died was that I was worried that so many people would just remember her as the poor girl that died," said Heidi Jackson, choking back tears. "They wouldn't remember her for what I know her as."

Heidi Jackson talks death of Hannah Thorne

8 years ago

Duration 1:28

Heidi Jackson talks death of Hannah Thorne

Heidi, with her sister Kylie, are part of STAND (Standing Together Against Negligent Driving)for Hannah, a foundation hoping toeducate the public on the dangers of reckless drivingand work to forcelegislative change.

The young girls have been active voices among their peers, trying to make youth think twice before driving while distracted.

"I believe we are going to save somebody else's Hannah," said Heidi.

Lack of seatbelt safety 'frustrating' for police

"As an analyst having to write those reports, it's very disturbing to write a report saying this person didn't have to die," said RCMPConst. Janet Austin.

It's something she has been forced to get used to: people ignoring a simple, three-second process that can save their lives.

Staggering number of highway deaths due to no seatbelt

8 years ago

Duration 0:56

Janet Austin, RCMP, speaks on no seatbelt deaths

Austin said it is frustrating to see the same mistake rearing its ugly head,case after case; in her jurisdiction last year,she said, 41 per cent of fatalities could have been prevented if the victim had been wearing a seatbelt.

A unique studio prop

Sitting in the middle of the CBC studio was a smashed-up, roofless sedan, wrapped around a hydro pole.

"It makes it really real," said John Harris, a teenager in the process of getting his driver's licence."There's a lot of separation with what we see in the news. We never really have it happen to us until it does."

Young driver reacts to CBC Driven's wreck

8 years ago

Duration 0:36

John Harris gives thoughts on car wreck in CBC studio

The car was towed to the CBC building, carried inside and assembled in studio before the broadcast.

Dangerous driving caught on camera

Rudy Singleton of Safety Services NL has seen just about everything.

In a montage of dashboard camera videos, Singleton walked viewers through a sample of the close calls their drivers have faced.

Safety Services NL dashcam footage

8 years ago

Duration 0:42

Dashboard footage captures dangerous driving in St. John's area

In a testament to the everyday risks of the road, reports of a two-vehicle collision in Peterviewcame in during the first half-hour of the broadcast. Justminutes after the extended online streamwas over, a viewer sent in footage of a school bus making what appears to be an illegal left turn in Paradise earlier on Thursday.

Spreading the message

While most people are reminded of the dangers of distracted driving in daily news stories or dashboard videos, Gail Thorne is reminded constantlyby the absence of her daughter.

"I don't want anybody to go through this," shesaid. "We have to drive change."

If you missed last night's Driven special, you can catch the full 90 minutes in our YouTube video below: