Flanders Road text stops dedicated to memory of woman killed by driver prosecutors said was texting

The two rest stops on Flanders Road were formally dedicated as text stops in memory of Barbara Tocci, the Flanders native who was killed in a head-on collision on the road in January 2014. The driver of the PSEG utility truck that crossed into the oncoming lane of travel and hit Tocci’s SUV had been texting moments before the crash, according to prosecutors. 

Tocci’s family members became crusaders against texting while driving, even posting a billboard on Flanders Road property owned by her sister and brother-in-law warning against the dangers of texting and driving. The billboard depicts the smiling face of the 47-year-old who lost her life as she drove to work on the morning of Jan. 16, 2014.

Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming unveiled the text stop sign this afternoon at a press conference at the stop, which is located not far from the site of the fatal collision.

“The primary reason why were here — the primary reason why folks worked so hard to make this happen — is to remember everything she meant to everyone in this community,” Fleming said.

“Texting while driving is a terrible scourge on our community, on our country,” Fleming said. “People don’t recognize it because it takes such a small physical commitment, so people don’t realize how dangerous texting is. The average text message takes five seconds. If you’re driving 55 miles per hour, that’s the equivalent of driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed,” Fleming said. “Think about it.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately nine people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver every day in the United States.

“I am so deeply grateful to our partners at the state, town and county who have now dedicated this area to be a place where you can safely pull over and do your texting so you are not putting lives in danger,” the legislator said.

Tocci’s family members assembled at the text stop for the ceremony. “The dedication of this text stop to Barbara keeps Barbara’s memory alive,” her sister Susan Tocci said. “Hopefully drivers will use this text stop, which will prevent future tragedies and therefore save numerous lives.”

Fleming thanked Assemblyman Fred Thiele for his help getting the Flanders Road rest areas designated by the state as text stops. “It is a state-owned piece of property nestled between two county parks. It wasn’t that simple,” she said.

The state has been setting up text stops in many places, Thiele told the group assembled for the unveiling.

“The community continuing to lobby for this made a big difference,” he said. “It is part of an overall comprehensive effort to make improvements to the Flanders-Riverside-Northampton area, finally getting Route 24 repaved, construction of the Riverside traffic circle,” said Thiele. “The community is being heard.”

Peter Blasl contributed reporting.