It Won’t Happen to Me was born out of firsthand heartbreak and a commitment to do more. In 1999, while serving as a police officer in Gwinnett County, our founder, William Richardson, saw far too many young lives lost in preventable car crashes. What began as a memorial book sharing their stories soon became a mission: to help students and families understand what went wrong—and how those tragedies could have been avoided.

To be the leading partner for schools and community organizations nationwide, promoting safe driving practices.

We are dedicated to saving lives and encouraging safe driving among young people through community-focused educational initiatives.

Thank you for taking a moment to learn more about It Won’t Happen to Me. Born out of the heartbreak of a teen who had lost two close friends to car crashes, as well as I had witnessed these tragedies while serving as a police officer in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Too many times, I responded to crash scenes where young lives were lost-not due to bad intentions, but because of one avoidable decision, one moment of distraction, one missed opportunity to understand the risks.

In 1999, I began collecting the stories of these young people, stories that deserved to be told, not as warnings, but as lessons. What started as a memorial book quickly evolved into something bigger, a commitment to educate students and families before tragedy strikes.

It Won’t Happen to Me isn’t about mechanics, it’s about mindset. Our program challenges students to think critically about their choices behind the wheel and helps them understand the very real consequences of unsafe driving. We don’t just present facts; we share real stories, invite honest reflection, and spark conversations that can and do save lives.

Each time a student tells us, I never thought about it that way, we know the message is working. My hope is that this program reaches every school, every community, and every young driver who thinks, it won’t happen to me.

Thank you for partnering with us to make that hope a reality.