"Marker Memories"

May Have Fresh New Singer For Part II

2010-11-27T17:02:00.004-05:00

I am happy to be auditioning singers for MarkerMemories Part II. It will be nice working with a new singer as we continue efforts to make our highways safer. Hope to have more details soon.

Florida's Memorial Markers

2010-02-03T21:00:00.002-05:00

Citizen News
Markers: safety and sentiment

By BRENDA HAWKINS
Published Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Across the country, the signs of loved ones lost are everywhere, from crosses placed by the American Legion in Montana to South Dakota’s diamond-shaped “Why die?” signs to Florida’s round, personalized “Drive Safely” markers,

Although federal law prohibits placing makeshift memorials, or anything else, in the right of way on its highways, states are permitted to legislate their own policy on fatality signage.

According to Debbie Tower, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida’s tribute signs were deliberately designed to be homogenous in 1997.

“We created a design that was non-denominational for obvious reasons,” she says, of the round, 15-inch diameter aluminum signs on five-foot poles, “We were sensitive to that. People are appreciative of the remembrance.”

Fifty-two of the Sunshine State’s memorial markers are posted along Collier County state and federal highways.

The markers feature a white background and black letters reading, “Drive Safely, In Memory,” followed by the deceased’s full name.

Requests for memorial markers may be made by immediate family members or friends, with requests from friends requiring the approval of the deceased’s immediate family.

Tower said it is up to each district’s operations manager to determine whether and where to place a memorial marker. Sometimes the markers are not placed at the exact location of the fatality, due to restricted space, safety concerns, property owner complaints or other constraints. The department installs markers only on designated state roads and does not have the authority to place them on city or county roadways. Memorial markers will not be erected where they are prohibited by the local governmental entity.

“The field manager has to decide if it’s too close to an intersection or sidewalk or utilities,” she says. “People were putting markers in completely inappropriate places. In North Fort Myers, I remember that someone anchored a cross in the ground with a 10-gallon can of cement. Obviously, that didn’t meet specifications.”

To avoid people taking such measures into their own hands, the state not only approves locations, but pays for the creation and installation of the makers, which are manufactured at the FDOT sign fabrication facility.

“It’s a relatively inexpensive program,” Tower said. “We work smart. Our maintenance crews can install them very quickly, but we do it as a part of regular work assignments in an area.”

For that reason, there may lag time of up to two months from approval of a request to installation, according to Stu Myer, an FDOT roadside specialist.

Myer recommended those wishing to have a marker established for a loved one make their request within two years of the fatality. Under state policy, the marker remains at the site for one year unless it has to be moved for construction or maintenance purposes. He said families can request that the sign stay up longer, but approval depends on several factors.

“If we left all those signs up forever, we’d have polka dots up and down the highway,” Myer said.

Collier County has no policy regarding standardized memorials on local roads, but according to public information officer Connie Deane, placing homemade tributes in the right of way is not permitted.

While the “Drive Safely” portion of Florida’s memorial markers is relatively easy to read, the names of the fatality victim can be difficult to read from the roadway without slowing down.

Tower warns drivers not to do that, adding that decoration of the signs is also discouraged for safety reasons.

“We worry a lot about untrained people working in the rights-of-way. We had so many instances of people pulling off the highway to place memorials at the scene of fatal car accident that it became a hazardous situation,” she says. “We recognized that people wanted to remember loved ones lost and also remind people to drive safely.”

To request a marker, go online to dot.state.fl.us/statemaintenanceoffice and click on memorial markers.

One Marker's Story

2010-02-03T09:21:00.001-05:00

Citizen News
Florida memorial marker serves as loved one's headstone

Published Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Lollipops.

That’s what Dan Hoolihan calls the memorial markers that dot the highways of Florida.

But it’s a term of endearment for Hoolihan, whose own experience with the little round signs is highly personal. On Dec. 18, 2005, he lost his brother David to a ATV accident at Exit 105 at I-75 and Golden Gate Parkway.

“The signs are supposed to promote safety, because when you see one you know somebody died right there. But for us, it’s a headstone, because we had him cremated and there is no headstone,” he says of the marker, tucked into the landscaping on the northwest quadrant. “There’s nothing left but that little lollipop to mark the last place he was alive; the place where he went to heaven.”

David, 41, and his girlfriend were riding ATV’s near his home late at night when he his four-wheeler hit a pile of asphalt left over from construction of the southbound exit ramp. He flew over the handlebars and was instantly killed.

While authorities suggested David had tried to jump the pile, Dan believes his brother was looking over his shoulder to see how far behind him his girlfriend was, when he accidentally hit the pile of concrete.

“He was a bit of a daredevil; he was always trying to jump everything,” says Dan. “But he was a very talented driver and motocross rider. He wasn’t trying to jump it. It was just a freak accident.”

Dan says his brother would have have been surprised in life to know that he would one day die in an ATV accident.

“He’d kick himself in the butt, looking back, that he went that way,” he says, “knowing he died doing something he loved.”

Dan heard about the memorial marker program from friends and requested the marker, which was installed at the completion of the interchange in 2008.

Today, he is devoted to beautifying the little patch around the marker with landscaping and fresh flowers in memory of his brother. He also decorates the marker for certain holidays. At Christmas, the marker featured a photo of David wearing a Christmas hat emblazoned with the words “Bah Humbug.”

“David was just huge on Christmas and Halloween,” says Dan. “Christmas wasn’t so much about presents as decorating and getting people together, so we have an annual party on Dec. 18 in his memory. It’s a comforting thing we do.”

But according to Debbie Tower, of the Florida Department of Transportation, the agency dissuades people from decorating the markers, which are placed for one year.

“It’s one of the reasons why the state has the program,” she says. “We don’t want to see anything else occur at these locations -- having people in the roadway medians poses a significant safety hazard. That’s why we require permits for any kind of work along the roadways.”

Dan said he was not aware of the one-year marker requirements.

“A year isn’t long enough to leave a marker up, because they really are for the families They’re so far off the road it’s not like anyone can read them,” Dan says “But, I wish people would clean up after themselves, you know, pick up the raggedy teddy bears and faded flowers. It’s okay to decorate the signs, as long as people don’t abuse it and it’s not a distraction to drivers.

“I like visiting the marker, because it’s the closest I’ll ever get to where David was last alive. I take comfort from that little sign. If the state takes it down, I’d be really upset; I’d pay whatever it takes to keep it there,” Dan says in a choked voice. “He touched a lot of people’s lives. He touched the hearts of everybody he met; he just had a way about him. He was way too young to die. We all miss him to death.”

Traffic Crashes Send 3.5 Million to ERs

2010-01-15T11:49:00.000-05:00

Traffic Crashes Send 3.5 Million to ERs
Of those, 8,000 died in emergency department, federal report shows

THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2010 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. hospital emergency departments treated 3.5 million motor vehicle crash victims who had injuries ranging from bruises and scrapes to life-threatening trauma in 2006, a new government study finds.

About 85 percent (3 million) of the patients were treated and released, 321,000 were admitted or transferred to another acute care hospital for inpatient care, and about 8,000 patients died in the emergency department, according to the latest News and Numbers, released Wednesday by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The analysis of 2006 data also found that:

* 37 percent of crash victims were treated in hospital trauma centers equipped to provide comprehensive emergency medical care to patients with life-threatening injuries, while the rest were treated in hospitals not designated as trauma centers.

* About 55 percent of the patients had private health insurance, 25 percent were uninsured, 10 percent had Medicaid coverage, 4 percent had Medicare coverage, and 7 percent had other types of coverage.

* 44 percent of the injuries treated were sprains, 35 percent were superficial injuries such as scrapes, 15 percent were fractures, 10 percent were open wounds, 5 percent were head injuries, and 3 percent were internal injuries of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis.

Distracted Drivers

2010-01-12T20:20:00.001-05:00

FocusDriven Seeks to Crack Down on Distracted Drivers

Federal government, safety group target use of cell phones and texting devices

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Jan. 12 (HealthDay News) -- More than 500,000 people were injured and nearly 6,000 people were killed last year in motor-vehicle accidents involving a driver who was distracted while using a cell phone or texting device, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported Tuesday.

To cut down on the growing number of injuries and deaths caused by distracted drivers, federal officials and safety advocacy groups have joined forces to get states to ban such activities while driving.

"We are on a rampage about this," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said during a Tuesday afternoon press conference. "Distracted driving is a serious, life-threatening epidemic that steals loved ones from us and puts responsible drivers in danger."

Accidents involving cell phone use and texting are "entirely preventable," he said.

An estimated 100 people die every day in traffic accidents in the United States, National Safety Council President Janet Froetscher said during the press conference. A year ago the council called for a total ban on cell phone use while driving, she said.

"Twenty-eight percent of all crashes are caused by the use of cell phone and texting devices each year," she said.

"We estimate that 25 percent of crashes, or 1.4 million crashes each year, are caused by drivers using their cell phones, and an additional 3 percent are caused by drivers that are using texting devices," Froetscher added.

Using a cell phone or a texting device while driving increases the risk of an accident eight to 23 times, she said, adding, "No cell phone call or text message is worth somebody's life."

The federal government has already taken steps to crack down on cell phone calling and texting while driving. LaHood said that President Barack Obama on Dec. 30 issued an executive order banning federal employees from using cell phones and texting devices while behind the wheel.

And Congress is considering a bill that would offer states incentives to pass laws against cell phone use while driving, and to punish states without such bans, La Hood said.

LaHood said he believes in tough laws and penalties, but he's not waiting for Congress to act. "We are not going to sit around, we are not going to wait around for Congress -- we're moving ahead," he said.

As part of Tuesday's press conference, LaHood announced the formation of a group called FocusDriven, made up of people who have lost a relative to an accident caused by a driver talking on a cell phone or texting.

"We are molded as a MADD-styled (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) campaign to protect the drivers of our nation's roadways," said Jennifer Smith, a FocusDriven board member who lost her mother in a car accident involving a distracted driver.

"Our mission is to prevent injuries and save lives by eliminating cell phone use while driving," she added.

Said LaHood: "It's up to all of us to keep our eyes on the road every single time we are behind the wheel."

To learn more, visit the FocusDriven Web site.

2010-01-01T08:07:00.001-05:00

Memorial Marks Spot Where Mother, Daughter Killed

THE PORT ARTHUR NEWS, TEXAS | MARY MEAUX | Fri, Jan 1, 2:25 AM

Jan. 1, 2010 -- PORT NECHES -- A cold December wind made ripples in Larry Dupuis' jacket as he stood at the spot where his wife and daughter were killed three years ago.

Two white crosses, each adorned with a wreath, bear the names Rowena Dupuis and Karmen Dupuis and the words 'was killed at this location by a drunk driver.'

Dupuis, who is blind, was accompanied by his mother-in-law Ruby Myers, and members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving for the placement of the two markers on Thursday at the intersection of Magnolia and Merriman in Port Neches.

The markers are a way to bring awareness to the public of the dangers of driving under the influence, Kathy Bell-Schexnaider, a senior victim advocate with the Beaumont chapter of MADD.

Large commercial vehicles roared past, their noise intermingled with the revving of a motorcycle and the occasional honk of a car horn during the solemn New Years Eve ceremony.

The widower's message was simple.

"I wish for people to have a good time tonight but if they drink, get a designated driver, get someone to take them home, call a cab," Dupuis said.

Rowena, 52, and Karmen, 17, Dupuis were on their way to see "The Nutcracker Suite" in Orange on Dec. 1, 2006 when their car was struck by a drunk driver.

Colin Romero ran a red light at the intersection of FM 366 and Merriman Street striking the Dupuis' vehicle and causing it to spin into traffic and hit a third vehicle. A fourth vehicle that was stopped at the light was also struck during the accident, according to police.

The mother died instantly while the daughter died a short time later.

Romero pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter and on Oct. 6, 2008, Judge Lane sentenced Romero to two 18 year sentences to run concurrently. As of Dec. 1, 2009, Romero was placed in parole review. He has been in prison for 14 months, Schexnaider said.

Schexnaider hopes the memorials will be a visual reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving.

mmeaux@panews.com

2009-04-19T11:52:00.009-04:00

Another example of Driving While Stupid. All because the driver wanted to answer a cell phone call.

5 Children Die in Fast-Moving Waters
AP
HOUSTON (April 19, 2009) - Police plan to charge a driver who lost control of his car after using his cell phone, sending the vehicle into a rain-swollen ditch and killing five children, a spokesman said Sunday.

Three counts of intoxication manslaughter were being prepared against Chanton Jenkins, 32, Houston police Kese Smith said.

Smith said Jenkins failed a field sobriety test after the accident Saturday, which followed torrential rain storms. The bodies of three boys — ages 4, 7 and 11 — were found inside the vehicle. A search was planned Sunday morning for two girls ages 1 and 3, but morning fog delayed the use of a helicopter, Smith said.

The driver and another adult escaped from the vehicle, along with a 10-year-old girl.

Smith said the adult passenger told police Jenkins was the father of four of the children in the car, including the 10-year-old girl who escaped.

The current was so strong and the conditions so treacherous that it was several hours before authorities could search the sedan. Police said the vehicle was swept 100 feet from the spot where it left the road. The passenger told police rain was falling heavily when Jenkins answered a cell phone. The passenger said Jenkins lost control when he hung up the phone and the car flew down an embankment into the ditch, Smith said.

Which is more important, using a cell phone while driving or your life and the lives of others?

Please drive safely.

2009-02-20T06:25:00.003-05:00

For more stories related to roadside memorial markers, please visit these sites.

http://www.bluecoalition.com

http://www.bluecoalition.com/memorialpage

Stay tuned for additional relevant sites. If you have a favorite one, please contact me at MarkerMemories@aol.com.

Please drive safely, not stupid.

Thank you.

Safe Driving Links

2009-02-06T20:44:00.008-05:00

Interested in highway safety? Then you may want to check out these stories and videos. (Just copy and paste in your computer's address box.)

#1: America's Most Dangerous Roads. The first one may surprise you.

http://money.aol.com/forbes/general/canvas3/_a/americas-killer-
roads/20070718113109990001

#2: Most Dangerous States with Drunk Drivers.

http://money.aol.com/forbes/general/deadliest-drunk-driving-states

#3: Teen Driving.

http://autos.aol.com/article/safety/v2/_a/defensive-
driving-for-teens/20080604154009990001

#4: Think You're a Safe Driver? Take the test and find out.

http://www.nationaldriverstest.com/

#5: One Person CAN Make a Difference. What did he do?

http://www.youtube.com. Search Trooper Markers.

#6: Worst Cities for Road Rage. Is your city one of them?

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/worst-cities-for-road-rage-
revealed/20080514093009990001

#7: Another 16-Year-Old Driver Kills.

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/ware_13079___article.html/
nolana_accident.html?orderby=TimeStampDescending&show
RecommendedOnly=0&oncommentsPage=2#slComments

#8: Beware of Speeding Fines

http://www.walletpop.com/insurance/article/_a/bbdp/
the-3000-speeding-ticket-states-double/338665

More False Claims by Singer

2009-01-15T15:34:00.005-05:00

She's at it again.

The video's singer (see blog #1) is again making false claims about the video's song.

Now she claims that the video "A Long, Long Way to Say Goodbye" won all of the awards mentioned in an earlier blog entry.

Truth #1: There is no authorized full-length video by that title, just the song portion of the full-length video she posted without permission.

Truth #2: SHE has not won any awards relating to the video "Marker Memories Part 1: A Journey to Understanding." The videographer paid a fee to enter himself as producer in the Florida Motion Picture & Television competition and won a bronze award. Others associated with the video had the option of paying their own fee to receive a FMPTA plaque

Truth #3: I paid fees to enter myself as producer and scriptwriter in competitions conducted by Telly and AEGIS and won bronze awards for each.

Judge Bravo, Robert Jakobsen and I were presented United Safety Council awards (see earlier blog entry).

The singer has won nothing on her own. On her copyright application she marked that SHE is the song's author and is promoting that falsehood on her profile, although she knows I wrote the song's lyrics and created its melody. She also continues to claim she composed the song's music. Once again, there is NO music for the song.

So what has she composed?

The answer? NOTHING!

Don't be blindsided by her lies.

The Aftermath of the Video's Second Crash

2008-12-05T20:36:00.003-05:00

In the Marker Memories...video's second interview the story of a crash that killed an innocent driver, Pat Brown, 67, was revealed.

The young man who caused her death, 16 when the crash occurred in 2005, was sentenced in September, 2008, in Orlando, FL, court by Circuit Judge Jose R. Rodriquez who said it was the hardest case he had to decide in his career and a "no-win" situation.

The sanctions?

* Six months in county jail, beginning Jan. 12, 2009.
* Five and a half years on probation.
* 500 hours of community service, to include 300 hours assisting in the production of a traffic safety video and 100 hours volunteering in a senior facility.
* He also will be required to view the autopsy photos of Ms. Brown.

Both Jeanne Hyler and Mary-Allison Hyler, Pat Brown's daughter and granddaughter, gave tearful victim impact statements on the witness stand.

Most importantly, Jeanne and Mary-Allison received a heartfelt verbal apology from the defendant who looked them in the eyes for the first time. As a result, "MA and I both feel some "closure" now and are relieved that it's all behind us," Jeanne said.

After watching coverage of the case on local television, Jeanne and Mary-Allison shared a quiet dinner together and toasted to the future and to Pat. Jeanne said she "fell into bed feeling physically and emotionally exhausted, but strangely, at peace."

The Actress Mommy - Karen Leigh Monsalvatge

2008-06-27T18:42:00.017-04:00

Karen Leigh Monsalvatge is a versatile award-winning actress who has appeared in numerous television, film and video productions in addition to performing in the Whodunnit Murder Mystery and Olde Tyme Radio Show theater productions.

Her national television credits include Dr. G. Medical Examiner and commercials for The Drew Carey Show, AutoMax and Puritan’s Pride vitamins. Motion picture credits include Waterboy, Any Given Sunday directed by Oliver Stone, In The Shadows, Instinct and as the fore-person on the TV pilot of The Jury. An accomplished singer, Karen sings backup and harmony on Hallmark’s Tubby Time.

Karen has modeled for Scholastic Books, Hospice Daughter and Embassy Suites, among others, is a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Cancer Society and a speaker for Arnold Palmer Children & Families Hospital in Orlando, Florida.

She appears on YouTube.com as Karen Leigh Hostess and currently performs in State of Confusion, My Redneck Wedding and Fat Louie's Dinner Murder Mystery.

In 2007, Karen was awarded a Crystal Reel award by the Florida Motion Picture & Television Association.

Please contact Ms. Monsalvatge at kcreatewme2@yahoo.com or by phone at (407) 247-8560 when you need an experienced actress, singer or model to help promote your company or production. Casting directors and agents may preview her profile at www.800casting.com, Talent ID #14898.

The Actor Daddy -- Scott duPont

2008-06-27T18:19:00.010-04:00

Scott duPont is an award-winning actor and producer who has appeared in more than 50 films, 100 commercials & corporate videos as well as numerous television projects.

Scott has won four Crystal Reel Awards for his work on both sides of the camera.

He was presented an "Up and Comers Award by the Orlando Business Journal and the Florida Motion Picture & Television Association’s President’s and R. John Hugh Awards for excellence and professionalism in the entertainment industry

Scott has served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Motion Picture & Television Association for the past 7 years, as President of the Orlando chapter in 2005 and as State President in 2006. In 2006 he was also elected Chairman of the Florida Alliance of Media & Entertainment and was most recently elected President of the Florida Cast & Crew Association. He occasionally writes for Focus In, chART Magazine, The Director’s Chair and other industry trade publications.

Having an actor of Scott's caliber greatly enhanced the production of the Marker Memories...video. When he asked the actress daughter what she was counting and added the "hon", it created a familiarity that put everyone at ease.

To contact an agent representing Mr. duPont in your area, please call 407-629-SCOTT /(407) 629-72688 or visit www.scottdupont.com. You won't be disappointed in his performance for your ad, video, commercial or as the host of your event.

The Players -- Robert Jakobsen, Videographer

2008-06-03T11:56:00.023-04:00

As you watch the Marker Memories...video, you'll notice the extraordinary graphics implemented by the videographer Robert Jakobsen.

Robert has won so many awards for his work it'd be nearly impossible to list them all here. His thoughtful editing, graphics and background music allowed the video to have the emotional effect it has had on viewers.

One behind the scenes note: as Robert, his very capable assistant Shelley Olson, and I returned from scouting locations and routes prior to filming, we came upon a crash. Police and rescue personnel were on scene so our help wasn't needed. But an opportunity was seen.

Shelley parked while Robert grabbed his camera equipment and crossed the road to record the event. Not out of disrespect for the victims, but to use the material for the video. If you'll notice toward the beginning when the IHOP is shown, you'll see his work on display -- the restaurant, strobing emergency lights, an officer wearing a reflective vest, the fire/rescue engine and so on. That's where that footage came from.

Another tribute to his skills and imagination occurred when he and I discussed ideas for using hearts in some manner.

I wondered if, as the introduction was read, the various markers he filmed could flash on the screen, much like computer screen savers, and at the conclusion of the introduction form themselves into the shape of a heart, perhaps broken on each side, to represent the broken hearts of all involved with traffic crashes.

What Robert created turned out to be much better. That was the long winding road with the hearts at the video's end, as the song "A Long, Long Road to Say Goodbye" played.

Impressive!

But what is more impressive is the new venture Robert and Shelley have started, Recovery Connection, to help people trying to cope with addiction problems. Please visit their site at www.drug-alcohol-addiction-recovery.com.

Please visit Mr. Jakobsen's web site at: www.gaoncreative.com to learn of his other projects and the skills and imagination he can offer to bring your project to a successful conclusion.

The Story

2008-05-27T18:44:00.024-04:00

Karen Monsalvatge
Scott duPont
Veronica Robles

The script of the Marker Memories...video is a simple one.

Mom, Dad and young daughter are on a drive. The daughter, played so well by Veronica Robles (who turned 10 two days after the filming), counts the roadside memorial signs they pass. Dad (Scott duPont) asks what she's counting and then explains to her what the "signs and the crosses with all the flowers" represent.

Veronica asks Mom (Karen Monsalvatge) why people die in crashes. Mom explains some reasons people "drive stupid" (my phrase).

Veronica thinks that is sad and continues to count markers as the family passes them.

Finally, her personal "Journey to Understanding" evolves and she asks Dad to stop at the next marker they see -- she wants to show respect for the person whose marker they stop at. She says a prayer for the crash victim then places her new doll baby at the marker's base.

The lesson behind the video's story is also simple: people die while driving.

The scenes of their deaths are often represented by a roadside memorial marker. As I wrote in the introduction, these markers can be found on city streets, interstate highways, even two-lane country roads.

Sadly, though, we often see these memorials but do not pay them much attention.

Only through suffering the loss of a loved one or close friend in a crash, or by learning what the memorials stand for, can we appreciate that a life ended where we see such a reminder.

Demonstrating our appreciation for life and giving the deceased the respect they deserve is not limited to roadside memorial markers but is also expressed at cemeteries, churches of all sorts, parades and a myriad number of other outlets.

We hope our video helps viewers appreciate that life is precious and may be taken away at any time.

As Jeanne Hyler explains so well in the video's second interview, in the brief time it takes to blink our eyes, snap our fingers or say "Oops, my cell phone is ringing" a life may be lost.

Please treasure your life and the lives of your family and friends and ask everyone you ride with to use their seatbelt and don't drive stupid.

The Video's Title

2008-05-22T19:39:00.002-04:00

Marker Memories Part 1: A Journey to Understanding may seem to be a long title for a video.

But, there is reason behind it.

First, "Marker Memories." Because this video is about roadside memorial markers, the lost lives they represent and the memories relatives and friends retain of a crash victim.

Second, "Part 1." Additional scripts are in the works and I sincerely hope to post other highway safety videos that help explore the dangers our highways hold.

Third, "A Journey to Understanding." This is to portray the often long recovery time we go through when we've lost a loved one or a close friend, especially when they have died suddenly in a traffic crash. Grieving frequently continues for years.

And, for many people, driving past roadside memorial markers is often simply an exercise in travel. It's not until they learn the meaning of a roadside marker that true understanding comes about.

These markers are not an endorsement by government of religion, even if the marker has a cross or Star of David or other religious symbol. THAT is not true and is not what is important.

What is important is that these markers and their flowers, teddy bears, pictures or stories of the victim's life represent the last moments someone was alive, as Stacy Proscia so aptly explains in the video's first interview.

It doesn't matter if the crash victim was an offending driver or an innocent victim. The markers are a testament to their lives and a grim reminder to us all that life is precious and may be lost at any time.

Particularly when suffering occurs because someone drove stupid.

The Ripple Expands

2008-05-08T10:21:00.001-04:00

Three years after The Crash Project began, Judge Bravo also adopted The Marker Project, a safe driving sentencing option used by other judges across the country.

But this one had added twists.

Defendants must view five roadside memorial marker sites, research crash reports and write about what happened and what could have been done to prevent the crashes. defendants also were required to clean up the sites, add something to them -- a teddy bear, real or artificial flowers, etc. -- and have a picture of themselves taken at the scene. In essence, this affected two people each time, since one was needed to take the photo.

As with The Crash Project essays, many of The Marker Project reports were emotional. A number of them were quite impressive -- submitted on art board with color photos, Internet research and additional pictures of the markers themselves.

It became obvious early on that defendants were truly being changed when they learned the markers represented real people, and when they realized the causes behind the crashes -- speeding, excessive alcohol, carelessness, recklessness, cell phone use and on and on.

More perfect examples of driving while stupid.

In the spring of 2006, during an analysis of the success of The Marker Project, a concern was voiced about liability if someone were injured as a result of being roadside at the marker sites.

As fortune would have it, during this time Judge Bravo happened to meet Robert Jakobsen. As they talked, Judge Bravo learned that Robert was a highly skilled videographer and asked if he would be interested in teaming with me, since I was familiar with The Crash and Marker Projects, to film a video on roadside memorial markers that defendants could watch in lieu of physically visiting the sites, thus eliminating any potential liability on the roadside.

Robert readily agreed. Over the next few month, he and I talked about a focus for the video. I wrote the first script one morning at 3 a.m. Over time, that storyline changed dramatically to nearly what appears in the finished video. One last minute inspiration was given me as I drove to meet everyone for the filming.

Originally, the actress daughter was to ask, as she rode with Mom and Dad, what the signs and crosses with all the flowers along the roads were. As I sat in traffic, I realized what kids do, and what we all probably did when we were young, is to count things. So the story changed to have the daughter counting and have Dad then ask what she was counting. This would lead to an explanation of what the markers represented and some reasons why people die in crashes.

This approach has seemed effective, especially to a close friend of mine who called me after he watched the video. If you've seen it, you may recall that it picks up with the daughter counting "five, six." My friend said after he watched the video, whenever he passed a marker he found himself counting "five, six."

Funny, but he's paying attention to the markers more now that he appreciates who and what they represent.

Dale Earnhardt Started a Ripple

2008-05-04T16:10:00.002-04:00

Tragically, in 2001, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt died in a crash during a race in Daytona Beach, FL. His passing started a ripple that lead to the creation of the Marker Memories...video.

Allow me to explain...

Most of us have, at least once in our lives, tossed a stone into a pond, creating ever-widening ripples in the water. When we did this, we saw the effect the ripples had on our side of the pond. But, we never knew the effect they had on the pond's far side.

Our lives are like this.

Often, it seems what we do and the lives we live have no great influence on much of anything or anyone.

Sad, yes.

But, once in a while, an act we perform, a talk we have with another, even our passing, creates ripples that carry a positive influence far distances, much more so than we could ever have imagined.

Mr. Earnhardt's death lead to a ban on public viewing of autopsies, at least in Florida where Carmine M. Bravo serves as a compassionate, caring and creative judge. He told several driving defendants he wished he could have sentenced them to watch an autopsy. But, as mentioned, that was no longer an option.

I worked with Judge Bravo on a number of fundraising and other projects. The night after he sentenced the defendants -- one, 19, for driving 99 mph on an interstate highway, weaving in and out of traffic, driving on the road's shoulder; the other, 16, for taking her mother's car without permission and driving 84 mph in a 45 mph zone (two more examples of DWS, driving while stupid) -- I saw a Highway Patrol video on local government TV.

The video was Highway of Horror I and showed people who had died in crashes. I suggested to Judge Bravo we compile a scrapbook of pictures of vehicular homicide victims and have sentenced defendants look through this collection at the probation office, then write an essay about their thoughts, feelings and reactions to having done this.

The idea grew and, with the help of Highway Patrol Corporal Alan Conklin (the Marker Memories...video's third interview), brainstormed into what is called simply The Crash Project, a seven-step sentencing option used by several judges. This project involves reading Cpl. Conklin's report of a crash caused by a drunk driver that killed five people (the DUI driver is in prison for 40 years). The defendants answer 15 questions about information in the report, watch a video of the crash scene and a video of a Texas woman disfigured for life in a crash also caused by a drunk driver, then write an essay about their reactions, thoughts, etc.

The essays are extremely moving and emotional. One young man wrote that he believes if he hadn't had to work 15 minutes late the day of the crash that he and his buddies likely would have been involved in it. As it was, they arrived at the scene on their way to the beach just as a detour was being set up by rescue personnel.

That program will begin its eighth year in July, 2008. Approximately 2,000 drivers have completed The Crash Project.

How did this lead to the creation of the Marker Memories...video? I'll explain next time.

As always, please, drive safely.

A Video Blessing

2008-05-02T04:29:00.008-04:00

The success of the Marker Memories...video has been quite overwhelming.

Robert Jakobsen won an individual award from AEGIS and a Crystal Reel award from the Florida Motion Picture & Television Association. I received two awards each from AEGIS and Telly, for producing and scriptwriting. He and I and Judge Carmine M. Bravo were recognized by the United Safety Council.

We are appreciative and thankful, but we are also humbled by the positive responses from viewers who have shared their sad stories of losing loved ones in traffic crashes.

Most gratifying of all is knowing we have touched people's hearts and have positively influenced so many drivers (us included) to change their driving behavior, to become more aware on the road, to slow down, not use cell phones or do the many other things that distract drivers.

During presentations, it is sobering to learn how many of those present have lost a relative or close friend in a traffic crash. Those who died may have been at fault, as in the video's first interview, or may have been an innocent victim, as in the video's second interview. Regardless, lives were altered, forever, leaving spouses, children, relatives, friends and co-workers behind.

It seems so senseless.

Yes, deaths on our roads occur, but are almost always the result (in my opinion) of someone driving while stupid. Rarely do we hear of a crash resulting from a vehicle having a broken axle, a blown engine or having a tire fall off.

Too frequently, what we do hear is of drivers losing control because of excessive speed, driving while impaired, being distracted (such as the 16-year-old boy who caused the crash detailed in the video's second interview), tailgating, and on and on.

Driving while stupid.

Is there a cure?

Please drive safely.

Get It In Writing!

2008-05-01T18:14:00.011-04:00

5/1/2008

I had hoped to begin this blog by providing background on how the award-winning highway safety video Marker Memories Part 1: A Journey to Understanding came to be and also give background on the interviews shown in the video. But first I must address false claims by the singer who performed my song "A Long, Long Road to Say Goodbye."

I met the singer after I wrote the song's lyrics and composed its melody. She said she had been a singer for 30 years. She gave me a CD she compiled and I was impressed with two of her songs so I decided to offer her the opportunity to sing my song on the video.

It took quite some time for her to comprehend the song's simple melody. Finally, one night she seemed to get it and we went to a studio to record it (I paid the studio fees). Some people say it wasn't the best performance she could have offered, but she waited until the night before the videographer's deadline and after three hours we had no more time to redo it.

There was even a concern that including the song would disrupt the chosen background music, but I insisted.

Instead of being grateful for being able to perform on this video, the singer began claiming she composed the song's melody and denigrated my efforts writing "...all you did was the poem." Such gratitude! Especially after the opportunity she was given. But she steadfastly insists the melody was hers, even though she and I had not yet met when I wrote the song!

Because this was a volunteer project (more on this in a later post), there were no contracts or written agreements. I never expected her to try to position herself as some sort of professional singing diva, but she has. She even posted the song portion of the video separately from the video's full version, without my permission. She's also now claiming her occupation is as a "singer/songwriter."

Funny in that all the time we worked together she never once mentioned songs she's written. She's also claiming a copyright for authoring the song and for the music. As above, she admitted I wrote the lyrics.

The song was performed acapella, thus there is no music. Granted, the copyright office sometimes uses the term "music" instead of "melody" but what she's claiming is that "she composed the melody." Interesting that "her" version is what I tape recorded before we met. Hmmm.

And here is what the copyright office says about ownership: "Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form..." "Copyright exists from the moment the work is created."

As mentioned, I wrote the song and composed the melody in 2006 yet she claims a copyright for "music" dated July 2007, the month after the video premiered. It's obvious that while the video was undergoing editing that she pushed forward on her false copyright application. This shows how glory grabbing she is. While the rest of us were promoting the video, she was promoting herself.

Please do not use her for your projects. You're likely to regret it as I have.

The lesson here? If you are involved in a similar project, put everyone's rights and responsibilities in writing. That way, even if you are trying to help promote a "friend", you won't get burned as I did.

If you want to hear the song, please get its full effect by viewing the entire video.

To view the video, click this link:

Thank you.