Contact MADD! They helped me and my family when my father was killed by a DUI driver in June of 1992. They helped us through the court system since we didn’t have a clue on our rights, on what to expect or what to do next! Thank GOD for Paula Meyers of MADD in San Diego!

For MADD in San Diego click here: MADD San Diego Or call them at (760) 746-6233. By email it’s info@maddsandiego.org.

If you’re the victim of a DUI driver, or you’ve lost a loved one to a D.U.I. driver take action and call MADD at 1-800-GET-MADD…or click here and go to their National website of MADD You’ll be working with others who’ve been through the pain you’re going through – you’re not alone!

*We must work together to stop the madness on our roadways…people are basically getting away with murder, even though they’ve heard over and over “don’t drink and drive!

In your loved one’s memory “speak out”! Vote to have laws strengthened when it comes to DUI’s. Speak at the MADD-V.I.P.- (Victim’s Impact Panel) program. Contact Paula Meyers to speak at one of the VIP meetings. There are many other ways to support your local MADD Chapter, or MADD’s message. Even having a MADD bumper sticker sends a powerful message to those around you…it’s a reminder to others NOT to drink and drive, and don’t ride with someone who’s been drinking!

When you have a party, educate others you don’t need alcohol to have a good time…or make sure they designate a driver, stay the night or call them a cab. There’s a lot we can do to save lives by educating others of our loss! If you lost a friend, keep that friend’s death from going in vain by stopping others from drinking and driving – and never ride with someone who’s been drinking!

Also, as parents, we can also look at ourselves! Sadly, in the last several years, we’ve found more and more “parents” injuring and killing their own families while driving under-the-influence. What ever happened to priorities! My family’s safety means more to me than alcoholic beverages! So I don’t drink alcoholic beverages – it’s that simple! I’ve chosen to be a good safety role model for my daughter and others. So what are your priorities? Or, are you willing to take the risk? The risk of your family’s life!

Remember, you don’t have to be drunk to kill or injure. Alcohol is a “drug” – a “depressant”…a drug that immediately dulls the senses needed to be a safe driver! Also, always protect yourself and your passengers by always buckling up and driving “alert”! Expect the unexpected!

American Lung Association - (619) 297-3901 – They have a bus with various parts of the lung and how it works inside – www.lungusa.org

American Heart Association - (619) 291-5707 Educational information reducing heart attack, stroke and CPR courses – www.heartsource.org

American Red Cross - Disaster/Earthquake Preparedness information – also for first aide and CPR courses call (619) 440-7813 or visit their web site – www.sdarc.org

Connect For Kids www.connectforkids.org Connect for Kids is an award-winning multimedia project, helping adults to make their communities better places for families and children. The Web site offers a place on the Internet for adults—parents, grandparents, educators, policymakers and others—who want to become more active citizens, from volunteering to voting with kids in mind.

New baby? Have questions? Contact the experts at Johnson & Johnson at – www.baby.com

Recalls On Products? As your family begins to use items received as holiday gifts, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign encourages you to visit www.recalls.gov to keep up with all the latest product recalls.

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UPDATE: P.A.T.T. and CRASH Score Huge Victory in Truck Safety
U.S. DOT Agrees to Issue Long-Overdue Truck Safety Rules

Dear Truck Safety Supporter,

Last November, P.A.T.T. and CRASH filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. because the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) failed to meet congressional deadlines for addressing and issuing safety rules. We are proud to announce that the DOT has entered into a settlement agreement to issue a series of vital truck safety rules mandated by Congress, some of which are 10 years overdue.

We all know that precious lives have been lost while the DOT delayed and disregarded directives from Congress to act on important life-saving truck safety rules. Finally, after years of perseverance and hard work, progress is being made. Unfortunately, it took a lawsuit to compel the agency to do its job – protect the public’s safety. It took truck safety advocates filing a lawsuit to compel the federal agency to do its job – protect the safety of the motoring public.

In addition to P.A.T.T. and CRASH, Daphne Izer (Founder and Co-Chair of P.A.T.T.), Jennifer Tierney and Tami Friedrich (Survivors Network Volunteers for CRASH) filed as individual plaintiffs in order to strengthen our claim that safety must come before the political interests and economic gains of the trucking industry.

As you may know, P.A.T.T. and CRASH joined forces in March 2002 to create the Truck Safety Coalition and both organizations relocated to Washington, D.C. Our goal is simple — to combine resources and energies to bring the voices of truck crash victims and safety advocates to our nation’s capital. It is critical to our cause to position ourselves where decisions are made by Members of Congress and federal government officials on a wide range of truck safety issues. Collective and collaborative efforts, as shown by this lawsuit, illustrate that working together we can all save lives.

Under the agreement the U.S. DOT will issue final rules pertaining to:

• Truck driver fatigue and required rest periods, hours-of-service and other fatigue-related issues. The DOT estimates that 755 fatalities and 19,705 injuries result from fatigued drivers each year on U.S. roads, but the agency is now nearly four years late in issuing the rule. The DOT has agreed to issue this rule no later than May 31, 2003.
• Minimum training standards for entry-level drivers of commercial motor vehicles. Congress required DOT to issue a final rule by Dec. 18, 1993, more than 10 years ago. DOT has promised to issue a final rule by May 31, 2004.
• Minimum training requirements for drivers of longer-combination vehicles (multi-trailer rigs). Congress had set a Dec. 18, 1993, deadline for a final rule. DOT has agreed to issue a rule no later than March 30, 2004.
• Requirements for authorization to transport hazardous materials. The DOT is more than 11 years late in issuing this rule, which has security implications highlighted by the 2001 terrorist attacks. The agency has promised to issue this rule by June 30, 2004.
• Background checks for new commercial drivers, including what information prospective employers are required to obtain and what information prior employers are required to provide. This rule is now four years late. DOT has agreed to issue this rule no later than March 30, 2004.

The success of this lawsuit reveals the critical need for P.A.T.T. and CRASH to be involved in the public policy debate in Congress, the Executive Branch and the Judiciary. Special interests advancing the trucking industry agenda would like nothing better than to silence the voice of victims and safety advocates in the public debate. We are here to ensure this never happens! Our success depends on your continued commitment to make truck safety a priority. It is only through your gifts of time and money that P.A.T.T. and CRASH can continue to effect positive change. Let’s celebrate and cheer this significant victory.

Here is a copy of the settlement agreement.

View the lawsuit here.

To be removed from P.A.T.T.’s E-mail update list, please contact us at PATT@patt.org

For more information, please contact Parents Against Tired Truckers at:

P.A.T.T.
PO Box 14380
Washington, DC 20044-4380
(888) 353-4572

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*For additional great injury prevention “Fire Safety” information and programs in the area of “burn prevention” please contact, and if possible support through your donations, The Burn Institute just click or call (858)541-2277.