Five years ago Friday, they gathered at the home of their friend’s mother.  To this day I remember the looks on their faces…utter sadness, rage, grief, disbelief and shock.  They watched as their friend’s son played in the driveway unaware of the day’s events.  With each passing moment another friend arrived.  This was all much too soon.  These men had gathered like this only eighteen months before as another friend’s family had their worlds torn apart.  Once again, they have placed a black band around their badges.  Days later they would carry their friend’s coffin trying desperately to fight back the tears.  Again, the bagpipes, the gun salute and the 10-42.  These men who could have easily walked away after losing so much, but did not.  These men who chose, even after burying two brothers, to continue to protect and serve are who we will honor today.  Five years after they watched their friend’s patrol car sitting ablaze in the middle of Interstate 40.  Five years after they had to call their wives and say, “Anthony is gone.”  These are the men of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol’s Troop G District 5.  This month’s update honors the men of NCSHP’s G-5.

Everyday I check my e-mail with hesitation because I know they are coming.    I know the e-mails informing me of yet another struck-by, another close call, another funeral will be in the mix.  I am one of the few that hope my “inbox” is full of Viagra ads and “invitaions” because the remainder of my “inbox” only means sorrow for someone’s family…

Trooper Glenn Messenger, of the Connecticut State Police, was extricated from his Ford Crown Victoria and  with possible head and back injuries, after his patrol car was struck after while he was issuing a citation.

West Pottsgrove, PA police officer, Ken Moyer, was injured when his patrol car was struck while he was issuing a citation.

Three members of a Richmond, VA  Ambulance Authority crew were injured when they were struck as they were putting an accident victim into the back of one of their rigs.

Vincent Torres, of Black Eagle Towing in Miami, Florida, was killed when he was struck as he assisted a motorist.

I could go on and on and list all of the e-mails that I receive, but at some point the tears make it all blur.  These four were just some of this past week’s.  For a moment in time, in Southington, CT in West Pottsgrove, PA, and in Richmond, VA world’s came to a screeching halt as phones rang to inform family members that their loved ones had been injured.  In Miami, Florida the world not only stopped, but fell apart for Vincent Torres’ family when they received that phone call or knock at the door that Vincent had been killed. 

All we can do today is continue on.  We continue to find the strength to educate motorists all the while knowing for some it is too much too late, but with the knowledge that our efforts might just save one family from the pain.  We gathered last week in Concord, NC with AAA at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway to do just that.  To educate while we have the chance.  Please visit http://www.f-o-r-s.com/home/media/ and scroll to the bottom of the page to read several articles about our press conference.  Once again, thank you to AAA Carolinas for all of your assistance in educating motorists about the Move Over Law.

As I mentioned last month, we may have the chance to purchase up to 50 billboards across NC.  The billboard will have Nascar driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his friend, Sgt. Garrett Barger of the NCSHP, with a Move Over Law message.  We will send out an update with more information shortly.

I can walk through the events of five years ago as if it happened yesterday.  I can remember looking at a blonde-headed little boy that searched the faces of the troopers that gathered in the driveway of his grandmother’s house wondering why his father was not among them.  A Friday, five years ago, a beautiful day in the mountains of western North Carolina.  A clear blue sky only to be marred by the thick black smoke that rose from the interstate.   A life gone too soon.  A life gone before so many could say “goodbye.” 

Five years ago I began Families for Roadside Safety, but it is an anniversary I sometimes wish to forget.  I am aware of how much we have done in the past five years, and am proud and humbled by it.  I am also aware that I brought lights and cameras to families and friends when maybe all they needed was darkness and quiet.  I cannot change the past, but can hopefully mold the future.  A future where the men and women who work our nation’s roadsides are not seen as warm bodies, but recognized as husbands, fathers, sisters, wives and children.  They are there to protect and serve….us.  We asked them to be there, it is only fair that we protect them.

Move Over and give them a lane….Slow Down and give them a chance.

FORS & AAA Carolinas will host a Move Over Press Event on Monday, May 19th at 10am at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.  Speakers include:  Tim Hayes, a former Mecklenburg County, NC paramedic who became an amputee after he responded to a roadside emergency; Dave Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas; Lara Feinberg, director of F.O.R.S.; N.C. State Rep. Ray Rapp, sponsor of the recent amendment to the NC Move Over Law; Jeff Cash from the N.C. State Firemen’s Association; and Colonel W. Fletcher Clay, commander of the N.C. State Highway Patrol

May 2008 Update 

Our May 2008 update is dedicated to the memory of Commander Harry P. Wendler who served with the Miami-Dade Police Department for over twenty years.  He passed away last month from natural causes.  Families for Roadside Safety would not be where it is today without the quiet cheers from my uncle.  He will be missed by many.

In our April 2008 update, I asked those of you who are law enforcement officers, emergency workers, etc. that if you could tell motorists one thing, what would it be.  We had responses from tow truck drivers, DOT engineers, emergency workers and even parents of law enforcement officers, and more.  Here are some of the re sponses I received:

v  “What would it feel like to be leaving your home for your office, plant place of work and know that in an instant, seconds, if even less, you could be injured or die at your job (at no fault by yourself).  Would it make you take a second thought about going to your job, would it make you take a few minutes out of your time to spend with your loved ones before heading out?  This is the sad reality that we, as public service personnel (Fire, EMS, LEO, and tow personnel) have to face each time going to our “office”, which is commonly out and about, along the highways and byways that you take for work, pleasure and errands.   So, in regards to this, take your time getting to and from point A to B, and all points in between, you may never know that when you’re speeding down the road and get stopped by that cop, or that the person weaving over in the other lane is drunk and about to hit you, because when disaster strikes, we respond.  You might not think that your life depends on it, but ours sure does.  Remember, MOVE OVER FOR STOPPED EMERGENCY VEHICLES, the life that you save may be your own…”

v  “Please stay off cell phones when driving.  Stay Alert!”

v  “ I’d probably yell at the top of my lungs: ‘SLOW DOWN!’”

v  “Drive like it was your child standing there beside the roadway.  Because there is someone’s child, parent, spouse, or sibling standing there.  I wish everyone could have seen Cody Cogdill at his father’s funeral.  They would hopefully never wish to put a child through that again.”

v  “Pay attention to your surroundings!”

v  “SLOW DOWN….No Need 2 Speed!”

Now, let me ask you…What have you done?  What have you done personally to ensure your safety on our nation’s roadsides?  Who have you told about the dangers you face?  One person can make a difference.  Take the time to tell the people in your lives to “stay alert” and to “pay attention.”  How many of you work outside of law enforcement and emergency services, yet truly support keeping these folks safe?  Take 5 minutes and write a letter about it.  Ask your payroll department to include the letter with everyone’s paychecks next month.  Heck, I will send you the $5 to buy a ream of paper so you can run off copies of your letter and hand them to the payroll folks.  What are the lives of our law enforcement officers and emergency workers worth?  At least a ream of paper and five minutes of your time I would hope.  Remember, you could be the next stranded motorist that a tow truck driver has stopped to assist.  Your son or daughter could be the next one to get stopped for speeding.  Pray that you have told enough people about the Move Over Law.  The life you save could be your own!

With a recent struck-by incident caught on video involving a Pennsylvania state trooper, Move Over Laws have once again found their way into the national spotlight.  You can view a recent Good Morning America story, entitled Woman Saves Trooper’s Life, on this incident at http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4746501.  I had a quick highlight and mention in it.  As a result of that story, I was contacted by WAQY-FM’s the “Bax and O’Brien Morning Show” serving the Hartford, CT market.  This morning I was honored to be interviewed and you can listen to that interview at http://www.rock102.com/upload/audio/lara_feinberg_1.mp3.  Two states in their listening area, Mass. And CT, are both lacking a Move Over Law.  Hopefully a legislator heard the show and will do something about it!

To keep you up to date with efforts around the nation, here are a few states focusing on Move Over Law education.  Click on the state to read a recent article about their efforts:Colorado , Oregon , Virginia, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Minnesota .

Please don’t forget about our Move Over Press Event with AAA Carolinas at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Monday, May 19^th at 10am.  Guest speakers will include Dave Parsons, president an CEO of AAA Carolinas, myself, someone from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, NC State Rep. Ray Rapp, Tim Hayes, a former Mecklenburg Cty, NC medic who was seriously injured in a struck-by and Jeff Cash with the NC State Firemen’s Association.  If you plan to attend the press event, please RSVP to Carol Gifford with AAA Carolinas at cjgifford@mailaaa.com. 

We are looking for a few people who will be attending in personal vehicles to allow those vehicles to be used in a simulated Move Over demonstration.  We need about five vehicles, so please let me know if you would be available.  We will need you to arrive by 9am on May 19^th.  Also, we are looking to use one tractor-trailer for the simulation.  Again, please let me know if you would have one available by contacting me at Lara@f-o-r-s.com. 

You may have noticed that our “related links” section of our website is currently down.  Please be patient while we have this repaired.

Our MoveOverWI efforts are still underway.  The MoveOverWI website will be released this summer!

Move Over Law posters, designed by North Carolina State Trooper Garrett Barger, depicting Trooper Barger and his friend Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will soon be available!  Additionally, the posters will be turned into billboards!  With the assistance of AAA Carolinas, we hope to see the first billboard up near the Lowe’s Motor Speedway in time for race week!  We will let you know how you can help to fund more of these billboards. On a final note, the month of May includes the national Law Enforcement Memorial Week as well as the National Emergency Responders Memorial Week.  Please keep the families of those who have perished in the line of duty in your thoughts and prayers.  As always, Move Over and Slow Down for Stopped Emergency Vehicles…Our Lives Depend On It!