It was a crisp, cool December day.  You had a lot of housework to do, but that also required a trip to the hardware store.  Rather than dragging your family along, you kissed them good-bye, told them you would be home in an hour and you headed for the interstate.  Five minutes later you were traveling at 75mph in light traffic.  What’s the bid deal if you were 15 mph over the speed limit, so was everyone else.  With another five miles to go you start flipping channels on the radio trying to listen to a game.  With your eyes looking at the radio display you never realized that you had drifted from the lane of travel.   

Suddenly, you heard a noise that startled you and grabbed your eyes back to the road.  You immediately corrected your vehicle, but your heart was beating out of your chest.  The rumble strips just saved your life and that of a tow truck operator that had stopped to assist a stranded motorist. The sound from the vibration of your tires traveling over the rumble strips had probably saved your life and could have been the last sound the tow truck operator ever heard.  The fear you saw in that man’s eyes will stay with you along time.   

An instant is all it takes.  We all do it and we cannot deny it.  Whether we are attending to our children’s cries, reaching for a tissue in the glove box, tuning the radio or dialing our cell phones…we all do it.  What we all do not do is spend the majority of our working hours on the side of the road.  However, thousands of men and women do each and everyday.  Their greatest fear is us.  The motoring public who asked them to be there…to serve and protect us.  Whether by rumble strips, Move Over Laws or by our common courtesy we have to protect them.  They deserve to make it home to their families. 

You might remember last month I told you about AAA Motorsports & Roush Fenway racing’s efforts to help promote the Move Over Law.  On November 16^th, a press conference and kick-off was held at the Homestead Motor Speedway.  Footage from the press conference as well as a Move Over PSA (public service announcement) can be viewed at http://www.aaanewsroom.net/Main/Default.asp?CategoryID=4&ArticleID=583.  You will need to register download it, but it is quick and painless!  You can also view the Slow Down/Move Over AAA PSA at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rF8VcC124E         

ATTENTION MEDIA & OTHER ORGANIZATIONS! The PSA can be formatted with your organization’s logo and used for reproduction.  I have attached the information form.  As mentioned last month, our 2008 peel-off mini calendars are available.  Go to the Move Over Store on the FORS website, www.f-o-r-s.com, and download an order form.  If you prefer to pay via PayPal, please contact me and I will let you know what to do.  As a reminder, I will be not be sending anything out between December 11^th and December 31^st.   There is still time to make a donation for the 2007 tax year.  Go to http://www.f-o-r-s.com/home/donate to make a donation either via PayPal or by check.  Thank you in advance for your generosity.  Don’t forget that you can also do your holiday shopping at www.ibakesale.com and sign-up to ensure that FORS receives a percentage from your purchases! 

A trooper’s family in our district is facing a difficult time right now.  Their daughter, Karla, was diagnosed with cancer several months ago and she faces a long year of chemotherapy and radiation.  There is a wonderful website, www.caringbridge.org, that allows you to visit “Karla’s” page, make donations, send her a message, etc.  Just type in karlaallred.  I am sure the family would be grateful for your thoughts and prayers during this holiday season! 

We wish you all a happy and safe holiday season.  Please remember to Move Over & Slow Down for Stopped Emergency and Public Service Vehicles.  Our lives depend on it.

Here is the news we were looking forward to sharing! AAA will begin a nationwide Move Over campaign! They will also be providing us with a PSA to share with other organizations and media outlets.

On a personal note…When I first learned of AAA’s intentions, I have to admit that I was brought to tears (of joy). After so many years of struggling to find a way to get educational efforts out nationwide, our knight in shining armor arrived. Although a part of me wishes it could have been FORS’ doing to have efforts on such a grand scale, I am so unbelievably grateful that this is being done by AAA. As I have said before, I really don’t care how the information gets out or who gets it out as long as it gets done. I do know in my heart that we are responsible, in some way, for Move Over efforts to have percolated to this level. We can’t deny ourselves that :). When you watch what AAA does over the year, don’t think of us…think of those who died protecting us.

Thank you so much to AAA, Roush Fenway Racing and Nascar Nextel for everything you are doing to protect those who protect us. Thousands of lives will be saved by your efforts. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

Here is their press release (it is attached as well)…

AAA & NATION’S FIRST-RESPONDERS ASK MOTORISTS TO “SLOW DOWN, MOVE OVER”
TO REDUCE DEATHS AND INJURIES

Friday, Nov. 16, Homestead-Miami Speedway News Conference
Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officers, EMTs and
Tow Truck Drivers Join in Support of
“Move Over” Laws and Increased Vigilance by Drivers

What: AAA (American Automobile Association) will host a national news conference with law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians to increase public awareness of the need to “slow down, move over” when encountering the flashing lights of a first-responder or roadside assistance vehicle, and to launch a year–long public information campaign featuring David Ragan, driver of the Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.

AAA and the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition – a forum where national organizations representing traffic incident responders work together – will discuss the need for “Move Over” legislation in all 50 states that includes protection for everyone who serves the public on the roadside.

Who: AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race car driver David Ragan and national representatives from the International Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials will explain the need for a uniform approach to legislation that protects first-responders and other highway workers across the United States from death and injury on the roadside, as well as protection for motorists who find their vehicle stopped near moving traffic.

David Ragan’s father drove a tow truck for AAA early in his career, and David will share his personal insights on the challenges faced by those who patrol our roads and highways, as well as the need to “slow down, move over” when encountering an incident on the road or the race track. Various emergency vehicles used on and around the Homestead-Miami Speedway will be on display with opportunities for one-on-one media interviews with news conference participants.

Why: Every year approximately 200 roadside workers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, tow truck drivers and EMTs are struck and killed in the United States by oncoming traffic. Countless more are injured. Stranded motorists are frequently involved in these crashes and may also be killed or injured. By remaining alert to the flashing lights commonly used on most emergency and road service vehicles, and providing these vehicles and their personnel an extra margin of safety, motorists can help reduce the frequency of these tragic situations.

When: Friday, Nov. 16, 9:30 a.m.

Where: Homestead-Miami Speedway, One Speedway Blvd., Homestead, FL 33035
Infield Press Conference Facility located beside the Infield Media Center between the NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series garages.

Credentials: Media are strongly encouraged to request media credentials in advance from Homestead-Miami Speedway at 305-230-5210 or hmscredentials@homesteadmiamispeedway.com.

Contact: Christie Hyde, AAA Geoff Sundstrom, AAA
(407) 444-8003 (407) 444-8014
chyde@national.aaa.com gsundstrom@national.aaa.com

Respectfully,
Lara Feinberg
President & Founder
Families for Roadside Safety, Inc.
141 Spirea Drive
Waynesville, NC 28785
www.f-o-r-s.com

Please, MOVE OVER & SLOW DOWN for Stopped Emergency & Public Service Vehicles…
Our Lives Depend On It!