Motorists are Reminded to Drive Safely Around Law Enforcement and Other Emergency Personnel

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's "Drive Safely" campaign offers common-sense steps motorists can take to protect our peace officers

WASHINGTON, June 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For 23 years Police Officer Gary Allen Gryder served and protected the people of Houston, TX. One year ago, on June 29, 2008, he was directing traffic at a construction site on the Katy Freeway when a vehicle plowed through a barricade and struck Officer Gryder and a second Houston Police officer. While the other officer survived, Officer Gryder was killed from the impact. The 47-year-old left behind a wife, two children and two grandchildren.

As the summer driving and road construction season heats up across America, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) reminds all motorists to be on the lookout for law enforcement officers and other emergency personnel working on our roadways and to exercise extreme caution around these public servants.

In 2008, for the 11th year in a row, more U.S. law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in traffic-related incidents than were killed by gunfire or any other single cause. The 71 officers who died in traffic incidents last year included 44 killed in automobile crashes, 9 killed in motorcycle crashes and 18 who, like Officer Gryder, were struck and killed while outside their police vehicles. Compared with 2007, 28 percent more officers were struck and killed last year.

"Law enforcement officers across the country spend much of their time patrolling our roadways to ensure the safety and protection of other motorists. This is especially true during the summer, when more people are driving more miles, often traveling on congested highways to get to their vacations," said NLEOMF Chairman and CEO Craig W. Floyd.

"This summer, and throughout the year, drivers need to pay special attention to the law enforcement officers and other emergency personnel who are there to make sure all of us can get to our destinations safely. I encourage everyone to follow the basic tenets of our 'Drive Safely' campaign: slow down, move over when you see emergency vehicles on our roadways and let our dedicated officers do their jobs and do them safely," Mr. Floyd said.

"Drive Safely" is a nationwide public information and awareness campaign designed to reduce the number of law enforcement officers killed and injured on America's roadways. The NLEOMF's Drive Safely website (www.LawMemorial.org/DriveSafely) encourages motorists to sign a pledge and display a bumper sticker indicating they will exercise care and caution when driving around public safety personnel.

The campaign also provides 10 safe-driving tips that will help protect peace officers, including the following:

Move over. When see you a police or other emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the roadway, slow down and, if possible, safely move one additional lane away from the stopped vehicle. Forty-six states have enacted so-called "Move Over" laws, and violators can be ticketed and fined.

Focus on driving. Avoid talking on your cell phone, eating, hunting for items in your vehicle or engaging in other distractions while driving. Several jurisdictions now ban talking on cell phones or texting while driving. Even a split-second distraction can spell danger for law enforcement, other drivers and yourself.

Give officers room on the roadway. When you see or hear a police cruiser or other emergency vehicle with its lights and siren activated, slow down, move to the right and stop if possible. Once the emergency vehicle passes, do not follow the vehicle too closely - give it plenty of room.

Never drive on the shoulder of a roadway. This is not only illegal but also dangerous. Police and other emergency vehicles often use the shoulder to get to the scenes of traffic crashes and other incidents.

Watch officers' hands as they direct traffic. Hand signals provide the most clear and straightforward directions to drivers.

Read all of the safety tips, take the "Drive Safely" quiz, access other safe driving resources, and sign the pledge and get a free "Drive Safely" bumper sticker on the NLEOMF website: www.LawMemorial.org/DriveSafely.

About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers and to promoting officer safety. The NLEOMF maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, which contains the names of 18,661 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund is now working to create the first-ever National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of law enforcement through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts and extensive educational programming. For more information, visit www.LawMemorial.org