Car Wars!

The mission of KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® is to 

make streets safer for all who walk, ride, play, and drive. 

The definition of war is, "a state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state." Considering this definition, when it comes to practicing unsafe driving behaviors, are we, as motorists armed with cars, trucks, and motorcycles, at war with ourselves within our nation, committed to exacting the highest possible toll of injuries and fatalities?

It is a question worth asking since our behaviors behind the wheel overwhelmingly contribute to motor vehicle deaths - on average, over 90 each day in America. What are these behaviors?

Speeding 
Stop Sign & Red Light Running
Tailgating
All manner of Distracted Driving, including cell phone use (hands-free included), personal grooming, eating, animals on laps (would you put an unrestrained child on your lap? - Yes, some do!)
Not Buckling Up
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and other Drugs
Riding motorcycles without a helmet 

Considering the rampant  expressions of these behaviors, and more, is it any wonder that over 30,000 loved ones die on our nations roadways each year? Do we give the appearance that we are committed to carrying out warfare behind the wheel from our neighborhoods to the highways?

How do we return peace to our streets? Turning street warfare into "care-fare" involves commitment, at the very least, to practicing the following behaviors:

Before starting a motor vehicle...

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

...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")

…never drink and drive

...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 helps us improve our driving skills each day. None of us will ever be the perfect driver. Yet, if we are driven to care 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,
Tom Everson

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).