Nationwide, 706 kids under 14 were killed after being struck by a vehicle in 2000. Sixty percent of crashes occur on roads with a speed limit of 40 mph and under. Most speeders are in their own neighborhoods when they speed.
These and other sobering statistics come from Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, a grassroots organization dedicated to reminding people to follow the speed limit and other traffic laws in residential areas.
The movement started eight years ago in Omaha, when Tom and Wendy Everson observed the speeding going on outside their window. Since then, it has spread throughout the country. In each participating community, police, businesses, and neighbors are asked to take part. Local contacts sell yard signs for $15 with slogans like “There’s no need to speed” and “Stop means stop.”
“Two thousand pedestrian deaths were caused by [drivers] running a stop sign. Four thousand deaths were caused by speeding in residential areas,” says Everson. “That’s a lot of people, a lot of families, and a lot of grief.”
There are two local contacts in Minnesota, one in Shoreview and Champlin. Champlin’s contact, Heather Ross, works closely with the police department, has given her local elementary school safety flyers, and speaks to a number of groups in her community. State Senator Leo Foley attended her kick-off event in June.
“Our target is zero deaths and zero injuries,” says Everson. “Some people say that’s impossible, but then I ask ‘Who is expendable in your family?’”
To learn more, go to KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org, e-mail Everson at kkad25@yahoo.com, or call Ross at 763-422-9061.
