Meet Matty

Many loved ones inspire the mission of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25. Meet Matty Waldrup, one such source of inspiration.

On March 18, 2012, 7 year-old Matty was riding his bike across the street to play with friends, just like kids have been doing in neighborhoods for generations. At that moment his friends' older brother pulled out of his driveway and in a frenzy was up to 50 miles an hour within just a few houses on Matty's 25 mph posted street. He struck Matty, who died instantly. 

Shortly after his death, Mandy, Matty's mother, called to ask how they could honor him by initiating Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 in their Avon Park, FL neighborhood. This past Spring, Highlands Today shared Matty's story, Signs of Life, highlighting his family's efforts to keep all kids safe on and around neighborhood streets.

These past two years, we have been privileged to partner with Matty's family, even having the opportunity to share lunch together during a visit in June of 2013. He is one of the loved ones who inspires our "Run to Remember" team each August when we head up Pikes Peak in honor of all loved ones who have died in traffic incidents. 

Matty's smile, the energy and enthusiasm that only a 7 year-old can muster - as displayed in his photo above - inspires our mission each day - to create safer neighborhood streets for all who ride, walk, play, and drive. May Matty serve as an inspiration and reminder to you to make driving the most important task you attend to behind the wheel each and every day. Put aside all other distractions. The ones you love, just as Matty is loved, are all the reasons needed to Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 and to observe all the rules of the road wherever you travel.

Matty's "Sign of Life" sends a message to 

motorists on the street where he lived.

Be a Life Preserver

Succinctly put, the mission of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 is to "preserve lives and relationships." Being a life-preserver depends on our behaviors whenever we get behind the wheel. Each of us represents the ultimate difference when it comes to life or death decisions.

How then, do we act as life-preservers?

Before starting a motor vehicle...

...walk around your vehicle to make sure there are no kids playing behind or around it.

Next...

...hide your cell phone - where you can't reach it - so that it does not serve as a distraction as you drive (remember when no one had to worry about doing this? Cell phone use while driving is becoming the new "Drunk Driving")

Which reminds us once again...

…never drink and drive

Once you are in your vehicle...

...buckle up every trip, and expect all passengers to do so as well, no matter the distance of the trip. Remember, unbuckled passengers can serve as "backseat bullets" careening all over your vehicle in the event of a crash.

...stop at stop signs and taking 3 seconds to look left, look right, look left again - work hard to make sure the street really is clear of other moving vehicles, pedestrians trying to cross, and cyclists making their way along roadways.

…stop to make sure intersections and crosswalks are clear before making lefthand or righthand turns at traffic signals

…observe the speed limit, and drive slower when weather conditions or the presence of children at play, pedestrians, and cyclists dictate doing so.

...be a thinker and use your blinker to signal all turns and lane changes.

…create 3-4 seconds of following distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you so you have time to react to the driving actions of others.

Repetitive practice of all these behaviors, and more, is what helps us improve our driving skills each day. None of us will ever be the perfect driver. Yet, if we are driven to be a "life-preserver" each time we get behind the wheel, we can make the life-giving difference each and every trip.

It's About Kids! It's About Safety! 

It's About Caring! It's About Time!®

Safe travels,

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25®

A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization 501(c)(3)


402-334-1391


12418 C Street

Omaha, NE 68144


www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org 

Make your donation to support the KKAD25 mission today @ KKAD25 Donate. A personal thank you note will arrive in your mailbox (not your e-mail box).

Stop! Take 3 To See™

Visit Stop! Take 3 To See

Let's each do our part to keep kids, and ourselves, safe on and around neighborhood streets this summer. Visit Stop! Take 3 To See

Last day of school at the elementary school in our neighborhood. Here are the results of Stop Sign survey at 4-Way Stop with Marked Crosswalks:

Without Crossing Guards Present:

# of vehicles = 128
# of vehicles coming to a complete stop = 31

That's a 24% compliance rate

With Crossing Guards Present:

# of vehicles = 124
# of vehicles coming to a complete stop = 49

That's a 40% compliance rate

Let's not fail our kids and ourselves!

The Steps to Correctly Observe a Stop Are:

Stop! Take 3 To See™

1. Come to a full and complete stop - wheels completely still.
2. Look left. Look right. Look left again to make sure all is clear before proceeding.
3. Look for pedestrians/bicyclists and wave them through until they are safely across the street before proceeding.

Let's all follow the speed limit as well, and adjust downward in the presence of kids at play, pedestrians, and cyclists. 

It's About Kids! It's About Safety! It's About Caring! It's About Time!™