5 Ways to Keep Kids Alive in 2010

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead

As the Holiday Season unfolds, it is time to reflect upon and remember those loved ones who mean the most to us. KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® invites you to bring a deeper meaning to the Holidays in your home and in your hometown. Here are 5 ways to do so:

• Plan to begin a KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25 campaign in your community. All the resources to do so are free at KKAD25 Campaign Start-up.
• Purchase a KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® yard sign to send to a relative or friend so that they can post the message in their neighborhood. You can do so today at KKAD25 Yard Signs. A free KKAD25 trash can decal comes with each sign. The life of a child saved could be your child, grandchild, niece or nephew.
• VOTE to help save lives at KKAD25 Chase Community Giving Challenge. It costs nothing but a few seconds of your time, so don't delay, vote today! (Log-in through Facebook. Click on “Become a Fan.” Click to vote. Thanks!)
• Donate in memory of a family member or on behalf of a child you love so that others may live at KKAD25 Donate.
• Invite your business to become a sponsor/partner for the mission of KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25 locally or nationally. Sponsorships are available for yard signs, trash can decals, educational resources, and more to help support our mission and highlight your business’s commitment to roadway safety. Call 402-334-1391 or e-mail kkad25@kkad25.org.

Thanks to each of you for giving so generously of your time, commitment, and resources – financial and otherwise – to keep alive the mission of KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25 in your community this year.

“Don’t let the two minutes you ‘save’ be the last two minutes of someone’s life.”David Townsend (Tia’s Dad).

In safety,
Tom Everson - KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® - A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization 501(c)(3)402-334-1391 kkad25@kkad25.org http://www.keepkidsalivedrive25.org/

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25® and related logos and slogans (Be Aware! Drive With Care®, Check Your Speed®/No Need To Speed®, Stop! Take 3 To See®, Stop Means Stop®, Seat Belts-FASTENATING!®, and It’s Not A Race! Create Space©) are registered trademarks/copyrights of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, P.O. Box 45563 Omaha, Nebraska, 68145. No other entities may use these or similar marks without prior permission. Call 402-334-1391 for information.

Epidemics - The Swine Flu, Traffic Deaths, and Keep Kids Alive Drive 25

5000 Americans have died in the past 9 months from H1N1 - the swine flu - according to data collected by the Centers for Disease Controls. Clearly, from all accounts, an epidemic is unfolding.

During this same period of time, over 27,000 American daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends have died on our roadways. Yet, where are the lead stories and headlines proclaiming that an epidemic ending in death for many thousands of our loved ones happens on our streets each day? Where is the outrage? Where is the resolve to address this epidemic and to drive down the numbers of those dying in traffic incidents?

We commit millions, and perhaps billions, of dollars in resources to educate citizens about what can be done to avoid contracting, or to be inoculated against, the flu virus. Can we similarly commit to educating and engaging citizens in behaviors that protect themselves, and all of us, from injury and death on the road?

5000 lives lost represent tragedy and heartbreak for every family who has experienced the death of a loved one. 27,000 deaths ought to move us beyond tears and into action Keep Kids Alive Drive 25® is a part of the solution. You can be an integral part of putting an end to death and destruction on streets in your community by:

• Remembering, “Seat Belts-FASTENATING!®” Buckle up everyone, every trip, every time. Ask and answer the questions, "Who do you love?" and "Who loves you?" Answering these questions provides the best reasons we will ever have for buckling up.
• Obeying the speed limit, and adjust downward upon the presence of children, pedestrians of all ages, and bicyclists.
• Observing Stop! Take 3 To See® at every Stop sign - that is, come to a complete stop, look left, look right (for both vehicles and pedestrians), and look left again. Make sure the coast really is clear before proceeding. Remember, 200 pedestrian deaths and over 17,000 injuries occur each year as a result of Stop-sign running.
• Remembering, "It’s Not A Race! Create Space©." 29% of crashes occur because drivers do not leave enough space between themselves and the vehicle in front of them. Use the 4 second rule to help you maintain enough space. Find a fixed object ahead - a pole, a bridge. Note when the vehicle in front of you passes this object. Then count one-thousand one, one-thousand two, one thousand three, one thousand four. If you pass that object before you count to one thousand four, adjust your speed to create more space. Space is our friend on the road. Having enough space within which to react could save lives - even your own.
• Observing all traffic signals and signs. Make a habit of doing so. This along with good space management will reduce the number of crashes, and subsequently the number of injuries and deaths.
• Not using your cell phone while driving. Deaths occur each day because of "Cell-a-brating" while driving, or by driving while "Intexticated." Pull over to a parking lot if you must have that conversation or send that text. Your life, and the lives of others around you, are worth this small sacrifice.

To sum up, " Be Aware! Drive With Care®." Each and every action we take behind the wheel can indeed be a matter of life and death. Learn more about what you can do at http://www.keepkidsalivedrive25.org/

And, remember the wisdom of David Townsend, whose 10 year-old daughter Tia was hit and killed because a driver could not be bothered with stopping at a marked crosswalk to allow her and a friend to cross unharmed (and actually pulled around a stopped car in order to get by).

"Don't let the two minutes you save be the last two minutes of someone's life."

Safe motoring!
Tom Everson
Founder - Keep Kids Alive Drive 25® – A Non-Profit “For Action” Organization

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25® and related logos and slogans (Be Aware! Drive With Care®, Check Your Speed®/No Need To Speed®, Stop! Take 3 To See®, Stop Means Stop®, Seat Belts-FASTENATING!®, and It’s Not A Race! Create Space©) are registered trademarks/copyrights of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, P.O. Box 45563 Omaha, Nebraska, 68145. No other entities may use these or similar marks without prior permission. Call 402-334-1391 for information.

The Cell-a-bration is Over - Keep Kids Alive!

Thanks to Robert and Lisa, supporters of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, who share a valuable lesson about what can happen when we drive while "Cell-a-brating."

"It's better to be careful 100 times than to be killed once" -Mark Twain

Subject: One cell phone= 3 Dead

Do you see the motorcycle?

The Honda crotch rocket rider was traveling at approximately 85 mph. The VW driver was talking on a cell phone when she pulled out from a side street, apparently not seeing the motorcycle. The riders reaction time was not sufficient enough to avoid this crash. The car had two passengers and the bike rider was found INSIDE the car with them. The Volkswagen actually flipped over from the force of impact and landed 20 feet from where the collision took place. All three involved (two in the car and the bike rider) were killed instantly. This graphic demonstration was placed at the Motorcycle Fair by the Police and Road Safety Department.

Cell-a-brate by pocketing your phone while driving. The life you save may be your own.

$5,000 PRIZE! Ford DSFL & KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25®

$5,000 PRIZE! Belt it OUT! Ford DSFL & KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25®
Wants You to Sing for Safety

Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) has been a long-time supporter of KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25®. Now they are offering musically-inclined teens in your community the opportunity to create a song about traffic safety that could lead to a $5,000 prize. You can even incorporate one or more of our Keep KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® slogans into your song – Keep Kids Alive Drive 25®, Be Aware! Drive With Care®, Check Your Speed®/No Need To Speed®, Stop! Take 3 To See®, Seat Belts-FASTENATING!®, and It’s Not A Race! Create Space© .

The contest is entitled "Belt it OUT!" It is a national competition for an original safe driving song. Students must write, compose, and perform the song. Students may compete individually, or in teams of up to five (5) members. Students must be ages 15-19 and not be professional paid performers.

Students can win up to $5,000 for their submissions. The public will be invited to choose the top five finalists on the DSFL website from March 16-31st 2010, and then Kate Voegele (www.katevoegele.com/) will pick the winners.
You can find more about the competition at this link: Belt It Out! DSFL Song Contest
If you choose to incorporate our KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® slogans into your song, please e-mail us to let us know. We want to give appropriate permissions as well as to announce support for your song.

From the e-mail box:

• Oh Deer! Steer Clear!
• Most Auto Deaths from Single-car Crashes
• From a resident of Des Plaines, IL – “I was driving down Dempster/Thacker and saw the Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 signs. What a great idea! Meant to tell the police that I thought it was a super idea. I drive down that street all the time on the way to the library and forget the speed limits, great to have reminders. Someone deserves a pat on the back.” Read the press release from the Des Plaines Police Dept. at Police Launch KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25 Campaign.

Thank you for supporting KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25®

Thanks to all who supported KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® through America's Giving Challenge. We raised over $1,500 and finished in the top 200 out of over 7,500 charities registered for the Challenge. We also have registered over 2,100 supporters of KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25 on our Facebook Cause Page. You can sign on today at our Facebook Cause Page.

However, the real challenge remains - to demonstrate behavior behind the wheel each day that keeps us and others safe. You are invited to find out how to make a real difference in your community - check out the information on our web site at Campaign Start-up Information-Click Here.

You can also make a donation through our site to help to make our mission real for all who care about creating safe roadways in our neighborhoods, and beyond, and for all who care about families who have experienced the death of a loved one due to a traffic incident. Click on our DONATE link. Your generous giving keeps kids living.

“Don’t let the two minutes you ‘save’be the last two minutes of someone’s life.”David Townsend (Tia’s Dad).

In safety,
Tom Everson

KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® - A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization 501(c)(3) 402-334-1391 kkad25@kkad25.org www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org

Speeding Triples the Odds of Crashing - Keep Kids Alive!

“Speeding triples the odds of crashing.” (AAA Foundation on Traffic Safety)

KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® Weekly Speed-Reader

Did You Know?

“The biggest factors in fatal crashes are alcohol impairment and speeding. So to the extent that communities do a good job of reducing alcohol impairment and speeding, that should show up in fatal crash rates." (Anne McCartt, senior vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - See Motor Vehicle Deaths-America's Safest Cities).

Speeding is the #1 focus of KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25®. Your community can lead the way in addressing this behavior. Contact kkad25@kka25.org to learn how you can engage your community in creating safer environments on all roadways. Resources to start your campaign can be downloaded at KKAD25 Campaign Start-Up. It’s never too early to get started.

KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25 and Road Safety in the News

• Remembering Melissa Tindell
• Shorewood Campaign Aims for Safer Drivers
• Drivers Distracted When Near Schools – Integrate KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® in to your local Safe Routes to Schools initiatives. Find out how - e-mail kkad25@kkad25.org. Find your State Safe Routes contact at State SRTS Contacts.
• From the Foxboro, MA Community Calendar - Holiday Craft Fair. Proceeds to benefit Keep Kids Alive – Foxboro, Foxboro’s traffic safety campaign. Let us know about your fundraisers as well – kkad25@kkad25.org.

Help KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25 Make the Top 100
(Out of over 7,000 Non-Profits Registered)

Only 24 hours left to support Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 - America's Giving Challenge. Donate $10.00, or more, today at Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 - America's Giving Challenge to support our mission. Invite family, friends, and colleagues to do the same. Challenge ends November 6th, so log on today at Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 - America's Giving Challenge.

Thanks! Your generous giving keeps kids living.

“Don’t let the two minutes you ‘save’ be the last two minutes of someone’s life.”David Townsend (Tia’s Dad).

In safety,
Tom Everson
KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® - A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization 501(c)(3)
402-334-1391
kkad25@kkad25.org
www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org