After Losing Her Husband, She Fought to Change the Law—And Won!

Race Day Live  Randall Siddens was someone who truly lived life to the fullest. He loved learning new things, making friends, and enjoying hobbies like music, running, and outdoor activities.

He even donated a kidney to a stranger because he wanted to help others. He was a loving husband to his high school sweetheart and a dedicated father to two kids, with a third on the way in 2019.

One morning in May, he was working at a triathlon near the University of Missouri-Columbia when tragedy struck.

A speeding driver, who was on a FaceTime video call, swerved into the racecourse and hit him.

“She was going to hurt somebody that day. It just happened to be my husband,” said Randall’s wife, Adrienne Siddens.

Randall never regained consciousness and passed away in November, a month after his youngest daughter was born.

“So he got to meet her,” Adrienne said. “I’m a widow now. My three kids lost their dad because of distracted driving.”

In 2021, the driver received a 10-year prison sentence. While talking to attorneys and prosecutors, Adrienne learned something shocking: Missouri didn’t have a law banning phone use for drivers over 21.

“She technically wasn’t doing anything illegal,” Adrienne said. “But my husband wasn’t doing anything wrong either.

He shouldn’t have died just because this law said it was okay for her to be on her phone.”

At first, Adrienne didn’t plan on sharing her story. But when the Missouri chapter of AAA asked her to join its distracted driving awareness campaign, she agreed.

“If Randall had survived, he would have been the first to support this cause,” she said. “So I decided to share his story.”

Adrienne soon became part of the Missouri Hands Free driving coalition, joining efforts to ban phone use while driving.

“I didn’t need convincing,” she said. “I was just glad people were working to change the law.”

After three years of hard work and several trips to the Missouri Capitol, the law was finally signed in August 2023. Starting January 1, drivers using phones behind the wheel could face penalties and fines.

The law is named the Siddens Bening Hands Free Law, honoring both Randall and Michael Bening, a 46-year-old man who was also killed by a distracted driver in 2021.

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Adrienne was surprised when she learned the law would carry her husband’s name.

“Myself and Stephany Bening had shown up, spoken out, and shared our stories to push for change,” she said.

To get the bill passed, lawmakers made a compromise: officers can only ticket a driver for phone use if they have already been pulled over for another violation, like speeding.

Adrienne and other advocates were disappointed by this, but they still believe the law will make roads safer.

“It will save lives,” she said. “And that’s the most important thing.”

Some critics argue that other distractions, like eating or adjusting dashboard controls, aren’t included in the law. Adrienne thinks they are missing the point.

“Use common sense. If you shouldn’t be texting, video chatting, or watching movies while driving, should you be digging around in the back seat?” she asked. “Just be safe. Don’t take driving for granted.”

She also has a message for drivers who think they can handle using their phones behind the wheel: “Think again.” She believes people get a false sense of security because they have done it before without consequences.

“How many times did the driver who hit Randall do the same thing and get away with it?” she said. “It only takes one time for a tragedy to happen.”

Advocating for this law has been difficult but also healing for Adrienne.

“Talking about Randall helps,” she said. “I don’t want to keep sharing the worst day of our lives, but if it saves others and helps make change, I know Randall would have wanted that.”

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