overseas

Who cares about Motorists?

No matter how many times you do it yourself, it is maddening to watch drivers obliviously chatting on the , their face obscured by a hamburger, text messaging their girlfriends, grooming themselves. News reports show it causes deadly accidents..

If only the victims were baby whales or Koala bears, laments South Trail Fire Department Commissioner Jay Anderson, then maybe he could get enough donations to keep running Stay Alive... Just Drive, a not-for-profit dedicated to safe driving practices.

The former Army safety educator and EMS captain started the program in 2003, after his wife was hit by a driver talking on a cell . Since then, her broken bones have healed and he's grown Stay Alive with success, but he's draining his own bank accounts and working odd jobs to keep it afloat.

Through preventative education, such as speaking to school children or community groups, as well as promotions like billboards and other materials, his work teaches and reminds people about the importance of making driving a singular task.

"I put my heart and soul into it," Mr. Anderson says, "And (because of) the fact that I've exhausted my savings, I've got to toss in the towel."

Audiences are attracted to the message, even if they're not willing to make a donation. After all, who hasn't been cut off or worse by some oblivious boob (or driven like one themselves)? But the idea of donating money to educate motorists and keep them safe doesn't tug at the heartstrings that are often attached to purses.

"We have no problem giving money to save panthers, but to save a life?" Mr. Anderson asks. "Why is it acceptable that people die on our roads?"

His success so far has been a result of keeping administrative costs low, relying on volunteers and donations, taking no pay for the full-time position as executive director, promoting the program at community events and finally, using his own money to fund Stay Alive when cash ran out. As a result, the program grew quickly from Lee County to Polk County and into Delaware, Maryland and Alabama.

"The thing this program does that is unique is put the responsibility for your actions right back in our lap," he says. "It makes people think."

He even has people in India, where new roads and cell use are causing fatalities, wearing the Stay Alive…Just Drive T-shirt, with the logo designed by Doug MacGregor, a cartoonist at The News-Press.

"Because we have been so successful, people misinterpret the success," Mr. Anderson speculates as to another reason why more haven't come forward with donations. As for the economy being a factor, he doesn't buy it.

He notes that if about a quarter of the people in Lee County donated $1 it would raise $150,000, enough to save his organization. If the program is saved, it could gain the federal government's nonprofit status, 501(c)3, which would allow him to apply for more funding sources.

The kind of education Stay Alive provides is one of the keys to traffic safety, he says, along with enforcement and engineering (well-designed cars, roads, traffic signs and signals). Since Stay Alive…just Drive was formed, the fatality rate for accidents in Lee County was cut almost in half, from 151 in 2005 to 78 last year.

"As one of the key components of traffic safety, (Stay Alive…just Drive) is responsible for helping," he said. "…To me the magic word is 'prevention.'"

He believes that without an education program like this, more people will go on driving distractedly without any consequences until the unthinkable, yet actually common, occurs. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles says eight out of 10 accidents are caused by distracted drivers.

Mr. Anderson says he's determined to do whatever it takes to keep the program running, but can't keep doing it for free.

"I'm committed," he says. "This is my home. I ask myself why I do it. And to be honest, it's to save lives. As corny as that sounds, it's true. I can't let this go. I've lost countless hours of sleep."

Mr. Anderson, 54, grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Fort Myers for 34 years. He has a sister in Tennessee, and the rest of his family, two brothers, a sister, his wife and children, lives in Lee County. He also admits to weaning himself off cell use while driving.

"It's about like learning to take of your hat in church," he says.

BY EVAN WILLIAMS
ewilliamsfloridaweekly.com
To make a donation, visit the Web site at www.sajd.org or send it directly to 7151 Carousel Lane, Fort Myers, FL