Brett's Purpose

As many of you know my husband (Brett Maddux) was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident on March 25th when someone pulled out in front of him because she did not see him.  It was a complete freak accident but it did take away my husband as well as the father of my babies F-O-R-E-V-E-R!  With that being said, I came into work this morning with a wonderful surprise from a co-worker of mine.  She designed a window decal in honor of Brett's memory to place on the back of my car and to give to Brett's mom, dad & brothers.

TxDOT’s Share the Road (www.looklearnlive.org) motorcycle safety and public awareness campaign runs through mid-May and is designed to remind drivers to look twice for motorcycles, especially at intersections and when changing lanes where most of the collisions take place. In 2011, Texas had 470 motorcycle fatalities, 16 percent of the state’s traffic deaths.

Half of all fatal motorcycle crashes in Texas occur because the motorist never saw the motorcyclist. According to national statistics, a motorcyclist is five times more likely to be injured and 25 times more likely to die in a crash. In fact, 87 percent of motorcycle crashes result in the death or serious injury of the motorcyclist. This is because motorcycles have a much smaller profile than other vehicles, and it can be difficult for car and truck drivers to judge the speed and distance of an approaching bike. As a result, drivers involved in crashes with motorcycles often say they never saw the motorcyclist and could not react in time to prevent the crash.

“The number of motorcycles on Texas roadways has doubled to more than 419,000 in the last decade.” said Carol Rawson, TxDOT’s Traffic Operations director. “As more people turn to motorcycles for affordable transportation and recreation, it’s more important than ever to remind drivers to be on the lookout.”

Look, Learn, Live

I believe it is my mission in Brett's honor to make damn sure this tragedy doesn't happen to anyone else's family and I would like to give each and every one of you an opportunity to purchase a decal in his memory and place it on your window.  If we can save one life and keep a family whole - Brett's purpose has been fulfilled.

AT A GLANCE: Sharing the road

As a part of the 2012 Share the Road campaign, TxDOT offers these tips for sharing the road with motorcycles:

Look twice: Watch for motorcyclists at intersections, where they may be making a left turn, and on the highway, where a motorcyclist may be changing lanes. Regularly check rearview and sideview mirrors, and use signals.

Give them space: Don’t follow too closely. A motorcyclist’s riding patterns are different, and reactions may vary for road or weather conditions. Allow a full lane of travel space between you and the motorcycle.

Anticipate next steps: Give motorcyclists plenty of space to react. This will help to make the road a safe place for you and others.

SOURCE: Texas Department of Transportation

Purchase Me Here