Another excellent video on the hazards of texting and general phone use behind the wheel  - perfect for ALL age groups!

https://www.facebook.com/monica.zech/posts/154681547991381?ref=notif&notif_t=like#!/photo.php?v=1480179597750

I just became aware of another safe driving website targeting teens – take a look:

http://impactteendrivers.org/

In August of 2001, Monica zech made the biggest and most rewarding career change of her life!  She chose to leave a 30-year career in broadcasting to become a Public Information Officer and Safety Educator for a city in the east county and their fire department.  In July of 2005, Monica was then promoted to become the Public Information Officer for the city, and still provide safety education on behalf of the police & fire departments.  She also writes articles on safety and appears on local television news segments giving valuable safety advice.  She continues what she loves doing most – providing safety lectures in the community.  It‘s obvious to her audiences that “safety/injury prevention” is Monica’s passion!

Monica has been involved in broadcasting for more than thirty-five years. Her broadcasting career highlights; in 1971, at the age of 16, she became the first female broadcast intern at KGTV, Ch. 10, from Crawford High School. She went on to work for a variety of radio stations as a news reporter/anchor. In January of 1984 she became San Diego’s first female airborne traffic reporter, and soon after – San Diego’s first television traffic reporter for both the NBC and ABC local affiliates and heard on ten radio stations.   Since 1984 Monica has been delivering lectures on safety throughout San Diego, Los Angeles and Riverside Counties.  Since 1984 to the present, she has received numerous news, safety and community service awards. (See her awards section)  Although Monica enjoyed her work as a reporter, she most enjoyed her research and lectures in the community on traffic safety and overall injury prevention.  Since the beginning, she has delivered these lectures on her own time, after work, evenings and weekends – and would often use all her vacation and sick leave hours to deliver her safety messages.  By representing an EMS agency, she is now able provide safety education as a full-time career. But, due to her passion for safety – she still uses her off hours and vacation hours to lecture outside the city.

It was during her first year as a traffic reporter in 1984, while conducting research and working with local emergency agencies, trauma room doctors and various transportation and safety organizations, that Monica saw the “crucial” need to add safety education advice to her traffic reports – and to lecture on traffic safety in the community.

But, after twelve years of safety lecturing, Monica’s work in traffic safety took on an even deeper meaning, when on June 5th, 1992; her own father was struck and killed by a DUI driver.

The Tragedy; On June 5th, 1992, at about 6:15pm, Monica’s father was crossing at the corner of El Cajon Boulevard at Jessie Avenue in La Mesa. The investigation showed a vehicle stopped to allow Mr. Pacheco to cross. As he started to cross it was the next approaching vehicle, driven by a 23-year-old DUI driver, that began go around and pass the stopped vehicle into the next lane. In court testimony the DUI driver claimed he saw a man crossing the street but thought this man would stop walking to allow him to continue to drive through. But Monica’s father was already in that second lane and the DUI driver, who should have stopped, instead – struck and killed Monica’s 63 year-old father “John G. Pacheco.”  It was soon found this 23-year-old driver had a blood alcohol level of .16, twice over the legal limit…so his thinking and judgment was slowed due to his intoxication – it was also discovered this was the driver’s 4th DUI arrest!  It took my father to stop him – but it also took his life to do it.  In the picture below is the vehicle that struck and killed Monica’s father. The damage to the front windshield was caused by her father’s head striking the windshield, an indentation to the left front end of the vehicle was where his upper body struck. His body was then thrown some twenty to thirty feet into the air coming down head first into the center median across the street crushing his skull and causing his fatal injuries.

More on the driver that killed Monica’s father. This was the driver’s fourth DUI arrest. Demonstrating a continued lack of respect for the law, he never bothered to go to court to answer for his last two DUI arrests, so there were two misdemeanor arrest warrants pending when he struck Monica’s father. From the first DUI, his license had been suspended and he was driving without driver’s insurance coverage.  Sadly, despite this DUI driver’s previous DUI record, he was sentenced to a mere four years in prison. After serving only about a year and a half of his sentence he was released for good behavior. (But was later thrown back in jail on yet another drug charge a short time later.) But, Monica’s father is still gone and very much missed by Monica and her family – and has become a part of Monica’s lectures.  Although it’s been 19 years since his death, talking about his death is sometimes painful. But it’s important to Monica to take that pain and educate her audiences on how “precious” life is and not to take your love ones for granted.  But, she makes it very clear – she speaks in memory of all those killed and injured in predictable-preventable traffic collisions every day.

But, lightning can strike a family twice! On February 10th, 2005, just before 9 p.m., Monica’s then 24 year-old daughter “Victoria,” was struck broadside by a 17-year-old female, unlicensed, DUI driver!  Thanks to her daughter’s alertness and quick action behind the wheel she was able to avoid a direct impact into her driver’s door. The young lady did strike the front end of her car then fled the scene – only to be apprehended a couple blocks away. Victoria did suffer some minor injuries to her neck and back, and her vehicle sustained about $4,000 in damages. But most important, Monica is very thankful her daughter was able to avoid fatal injuries…and that she was able to see her daughter graduate from paramedic school in June of 06′ and marry a month later in July. Monica feels very blessed to have seen her daughter achieve two important dreams – to become a paramedic and to marry.  Some parents are not so fortunate to see their children achieve their dreams.  According to police, the 17 year-old DUI driver that hit Monica’s daughter, may not be able to get her driver’s license until age 21, maybe even until age 25 due to the serious charges against her.

Research shows many drivers, with suspended licenses from a DUI, continue to drive, often repeating the same driving behavior. That’s why it’s crucial we are always 100% alert behind the wheel and as a pedestrian.  Stats also show 40% of motorists drive without insurance, so make sure you have good “un-insured” motorist protection on your driver’s insurance policy.

 As a driver, Monica herself has been a victim.  She was struck by a motorist who was busy talking on his cell phone and had paperwork across his steering wheel as he flew into a parking lot.  Monica was in that parking lot and saw his vehicle coming right at her driver’s door.  She hit the gas and he hit her back door area – avoiding certain death.   Then on August 29th, 2003, Monica was on her way to a CHP office when a motorist ran the STOP sign at the bottom of the ramp from west 8 to East Main Street.  The driver ran the STOP by two car lengths and failed to look left and pulled into Monica’s path.  Monica slammed on her brakes, leaving 22 feet of skid marks, and hit the woman’s back door.  Monica’s quick reaction saved the driver – but caused serious injuries to Monica. Due to her injuries Monica required neck surgery a few months later.  Two surgeons said Monica should have been paralyzed by the crash.   Her experience adds to the impact of her talks.

Buckle-up and be alert! Keep in mind that a DUI driver may run that red light or stop sign, or pop out of a driveway when you least expect it.  Impaired drivers (and pedestrians) are out there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

*For a professional and personal look at what it takes to be a “safe” driver for your school, group, military group or company conference please contact Monica Zech at (619) 460-0299 or email her at monicazech@cox.net.

Several Reasons Not To Smoke – Strong Ads

Having a home escape plan saved the family of a well known country singer, click on the following link:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/06/05/trace.adkins.fire/index.html?iref=allsearch

This website offers tips on Safe Driving for teens, and stresses the importance of “speaking up” when you’re a passenger in a car and the driver is driving recklessly.    On this website  check out their Safe driving tip section.  Also check the “Safety Videos” section on my website.  Don’t be afraid to “speak up!”

“Speak Up Or Else”:

Note: The number one cause of death for a teen is a traffic collision – most die as passengers – when they don’t speak up!

Be safe!

On November 10, 2009, the Brown family’s teenage daughter died following a single car crash.  The investigation found she had been “texting” when she rolled her truck off the roadway.  As it rolled she was ejected through the front windshield.

Her parents started the “Remember Alex Brown Foundation” known as B.U.S.T. – Buckle Up & STOP Texting program.  Click on the following links for more information.

http://www.rememberalexbrownfoundation.org/foundation/index.php

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEiBVfvnR6c

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDKOiMSkLxY

Saving lives!