It seems like the right time of year to talk about people who are working hard in their communities to make life better for others. So today I'd like to talk about Jay Anderson and the organization he started to reduce distracted driving, Stay Alive...Just Drive.
In September, 2003, Jay's wife was speedwalking near their home in southwestern Florida. A teen driver talking on a cell phone hit Mrs. Anderson, knocked her into a ditch, and sped on, leaving her behind with multiple fractures.
Jay, a retired EMS captain, soon added a campaign against distracted driving to his already impressive list of community engagment, including the Board of Directors of the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition, the Community Traffic Safety Team, the Traffic Intervention Management Team, the Hwy 27 Safety Task Force, and the American Driver & Traffic Safety Education Association.
But, Jay explains, "In 2003, I was all alone out there. Even AAA didn't recognize the threat distracted driving posed. I was a little bit ahead of the curve, and it was hard to get anyone's attention."
Today, it's a different story.
"Teaming up with Smoltz was the corner we turned," says Anderson of his friend and SAJD spokesperson MLB pitcher John Smoltz. "Thankfully, we found a sponsor to get that PSA on the air."
Now, Stay Alive...Just Drive is supported by thousands of members and a host of partners. They recently partnered with the State of Florida on a summertime public awareness campaign. Their advocacy and educational programs have made a difference in more than 10 states, several cities and counties, and nations as divergent as Switzerland and India.
Their longtime work is suddenly resonating. Their recent PSA contest winner, for example, is entitled "Message Received," and tries to show drivers that it's not just sending text messages or emails that can be so distracting. "I was driving to work yesterday," Jay effuses, "And what do I hear on NPR? A story about how reading messages can be even more distracting than sending them!"
Says Jay about his years of hard work to increase safety in his community:
"It's all about involvement. I saw a problem; my first reaction was to try and fix it. Not to leave it for someone else."
Jay is absolutely right. Let's not leave this problem for others to solve when the answer is within every driver's reach: Stay alert; stay focused; stay alive...just drive!
Thank you for posting this article! I hope those who read this take a moment to think about their own actions when they get behind the wheel. Jay's mission starts with each one of us!
Posted by: Leah H. McCann | December 23, 2009 at 02:23 PM
nice going Jay!!!
Kathy Burgess
Posted by: Kathy Burgess | December 23, 2009 at 08:37 PM
I had a friend of mine die last year due to a busy Los Angeles driver who hit her head as she was busy on her phone. I really hope people consider other people's lives as they talk on the phone while driving.
Posted by: David Stein | December 24, 2009 at 07:53 PM
It's important to have programs like this one getting the message out to the grass roots that it is not safe to drive and use a phone just like it is not safe to drink and drive. Yesterday we had a good example of what can happen that happened in LA County. A car pulled over to the side of the road to let a police car with red lights and siren on pass. A pickup behind the car didn't slow down hit the back of the car, went airborne and landed across Metrolink railroad tracks as a train was coming. The train crew was able to break but not soon enough to keep from hitting the pickup. Early reports were that the pickup driver had not been drinking but was probably busy talking or texting on the phone and not paying attention to what was going on around him. But he won't be talking and driving anymore for a long time. He went to the hospital in critical condition and will probably be there for a while. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.
Posted by: Michael E. Bailey | December 24, 2009 at 09:35 PM
It is a great step taken by Mr. Anderson. It will definitely help people be aware of certain things which should not happen during driving. That will certainly decrease the number of accidents in the country.
Posted by: Steven Jackson | bus transfers from geneva | December 28, 2009 at 07:37 AM
Thanks to all for your positive comments.
SAFE DRIVING IS NOT EXPENSIVE, IT'S PRICELESS! www.sajd.org
Posted by: Jay Anderson | December 31, 2009 at 12:08 PM
In 1984, AAA was the first safety organization to announce its concerns about the dangers of cell phone use while driving, and was the first to publicly promote a set of recommendations (beginning with “call when the car is parked”) to help protect the public’s health. Through research, education and policy, AAA’s efforts continue today (26 years later) to protect the motoring public from the dangers of distracted driving.
Posted by: Troy Green | March 01, 2010 at 04:12 PM
Good on you Jay for keeping wih the program. I ams orry to hear about your wifes acciddent. Here in the UK it is against the law to use a mobile phone while driving. The problem is it is so hard to enforce no-one abides by the regulation. Education is the key. Only by educating and not penalising can real progress be made. Well done Jay.
Posted by: hgvlgvtraining.co.uk | April 12, 2010 at 09:13 AM
A car pulled over to the side of the road to let a police car with red lights and siren on pass. A pickup behind the car didn't slow down hit the back of the car, went airborne and landed across Metrolink railroad tracks as a train was coming.
Posted by: create a free blog | July 30, 2010 at 08:07 AM
People get so defensive when they get caought using a mobile...The fact is, using your mobile when driving is selfish and dangerous!!!
Posted by: hgv training | February 21, 2011 at 12:02 PM
A mobile phone should never ever be used when driving. Its an ultimate sin in my world and dramatically affects your concentration level. Not only are you putting others at risk but also your own life is massively risked when driving using a mobile. Should be a resounding NO.
Posted by: HGV Licence Training | May 15, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Sometimes I'll be driving and see a car swerving or getting too close to my car, and when I see the driver more often than not they're on their phone.... or doing their make-up... or rolling a cigarette. Anything could happen in those few minutes.
Posted by: PCO Licence | May 30, 2011 at 03:40 AM
WAY 2 GO, Jay Anderson & U.S. Sec. of Transportation, Ray, LaHood! 2gether we CAN END Distracted Driving Now!! 2 find out WHY Distracted Driving is caused by TRYING 2 multitask PLS note Page 7 @ http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Distracted_Driving/Pages/CognitiveDistraction.aspx STAY SAFE: Turn Off Cell B/4 Driving!! 750 FREE safety reminder stickers 2 put ON cells &/or drivers' visors &/or 2 WEAR &/or Share 2 Print on Avery 5260 labels @ http://myplace.frontier.com/~DriveSafely/ 2nd pdf @ this site yields 30 site directions/ 8x11 sheet of paper, so others can get their own 750!!! More than 500,000 stickers R in use around the world!!!!
Posted by: Diana Johnson | June 23, 2011 at 07:58 PM
In 2009, there were 30,797 fatal crashes in the United States,which involved 45,230 drivers. In those crashes, 33,808 people were killed. Distraction was reported for 11 percent(5,084) of the drivers involved in fatal crashes. In these crashes reported to have involved some form of distraction, 5,474 fatalities (16% of overall fatalities) occurred.
According to: www.distraction.gov/research/PDF-Files/Distracted-Driving-2009.pdf
These numbers seem to only increase.
Posted by: Mikey Fox | January 09, 2012 at 10:35 AM