Laser Focus - Put Me In Coach, I'm Ready to Drive!

WHO DO YOU LOVE?

WHO LOVES YOU?

The headline reads FBI targets laser strikes against pilots over Houston.

The reason there is a law against pointing lasers at planes is because the potential for a deadly disaster is so great. Thus, the law is as it should be. Every good transportation or traffic law is designed to protect and preserve life.

Multiple laws to protect and preserve life exist that all of us as motorists are well aware of. Among these are:

• The need to buckle up ourselves and our passengers every trip no matter the distance.

• The need to observe speed limits

• The need to stop at stop signs and stop lights

• The need to keep a safe following distance

• The need to signal every turn and lane change

        "BE A THINKER - USE YOUR BLINKER!"

• The need to not drink and drive

• The need to put cell phones aside (at least some states recognize the need to do so)

Common sense tells us that these are smart ways to drive. Yet, each day on the road any one of us can observe multiple (oftentimes many multiple) examples of drivers, perhaps including ourselves, ignoring these laws, each of which is in place to help protect and preserve lives - including our own. Perhaps enforcement needs to be stepped up as engineers continue to do their part in designing roadways that help to keep us safe. 

Regardless, the one ingredient that cannot be stressed enough in addressing these behaviors is to continue to educate motorists about how to observe traffic laws by virtue of our behaviors behind the wheel. Any one of us can claim to "know" the rules of the road. Yet, when our behaviors do not demonstrate that we truly 'know," then ongoing education towards learning and putting these life-saving behaviors in to practice is absolutely essential. It is as imperative as what a coach knows intuitively; if the performance on the field or court is not what it should be, then go back to repeatedly teach and practice the skills necessary to succeed until these are demonstrated consistently in the arena. This is just as true regarding roadway behaviors.

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, along with many other non-profit, for-profit, and government agencies exist to provide the role of on-going coach when it comes to teaching and putting into practice behaviors that keep ourselves and others safe behind the wheel. Your community, business, school, neighborhood, faith community, or civic organization can get involved with the educational effort by partnering with us for the 8th Annual "Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Day" on May 1st. Contact me @ Tom@kkad25.org for more information.

It's About Kids! It's About Safety! 

It's About Caring! It's About Time!®

Rules Are Made To Be... What Drives You?

WHO DO YOU LOVE?

WHO LOVES YOU?

What if...

...a running back in football ran out of bounds, returned to the field of play, continued running and was awarded a touchdown while crossing the goal line?

...a basketball player ran down the court holding the ball tightly without dribbling and then was awarded a basket on a layup?

...a baseball player was awarded a home run after hitting a long fly ball that was caught right at the wall?

...a sprinter was awarded a world-record time, and gold medal of course, after jumping the gun and leading competitors by 10 yards before the starting shot was fired?

Or, what if...

...someone drove 5 or 10 miles over the speed limit and hit a pedestrian?

...someone did not buckle up, was involved in a crash and was thrown from the vehicle?

...someone tailgated and ran into the vehicle they were following?

...someone using a cellular device ran over a child riding a bike?

...someone ran a stop sign and hit a child stepping off the curb to cross the street?

Of all these scenarios...

...which would be the least tolerable? 

...would any of these actions be tolerable for any reason?

..which would most likely turn up again and again for viewing on TV?

Is it fair to violate the rules in sports? What are the consequences?

Is it okay to violate the rules of the road? What are the consequences?

Do we have a greater tolerance for violating traffic laws than we do the rules of sports? Life and death hang in the balance of one, while a final score hangs in the balance of the other. What do you choose to tolerate? How is your choice reflected in your driving behaviors?

It's About Kids! It's About Safety! 

It's About Caring! It's About Time!®

www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org 

"Sparks!" - The Dream to Keep Kids Alive

Peter Benson, late President of the Search Institute, talks about the "language of thriving;" that is the words we use to describe our hopes and dreams for our children. See "Sparks: How Youth Thrive."

What is your dream? What are the words of "thriving" that comes to mind for you? Is it joy, hope, service, and a love and appreciation of others? 

Every action, every word, we use to engage others in our lives can reflect the dream we have for our children. Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 plays a role in encouraging the realization these dreams.

How?

Simply by doing what is in our power to see to it that kids grow up to share their joy, passion, hope, and love with others - what Benson calls "sparks!"

Every time we buckle up, observe a speed limit, stop at a stop sign, put aside our cell phone when we drive, decide not to drink and drive, choose not to tailgate, we exercise the power to help dreams come true. What we do to prevent tragedy is directly tied to helping kids realize their dreams. Why? Because they are alive.

Do what you can do to keep dreams, and kids, alive today. Be that spark so they can sparkle!

Get involved at www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org