The Lutzie 43 Foundation announced a partnership with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to promote its 43 Key Seconds Safe Driving initiative.
The Lutzie 43 Foundation aims to promote safe driving among young people. The foundation was started by Mike Lutzenkirchen in memory of Philip Lutzenkirchen, a former Auburn football standout, who was killed in a car accident in 2014.
The 43 Key Seconds Safe Driving initiative, started in October 2018, aims to create the first nationally recognized symbol for awareness of distracted and impaired driving. Its mission is to prevent accidents and fatalities.
“The Lutzie 43 Foundation started the 43 Key Seconds initiative in memory of my son, who lost his life in a car accident caused by completely preventable circumstances,” Mike Lutzenkirchen said. “We’re honored to partner with ALEA as we work together to create change in the way Alabama drivers behave on the roads.”
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency will distribute 7,500 units of the 43 Key Second lanyard, key and countdown card.
“We at ALEA rely on a variety of tools to prevent traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities, particularly when reaching Alabama’s most inexperienced drivers,” said Hal Taylor, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s secretary of law enforcement. “Who knows how many lives will be saved as our troopers and driver-license examiners help distribute 43 Key Seconds keys?”
Through the partnership, the units being distributed will be cobranded with the Lutzie 43 Foundation and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
“I strongly believe our key can become the nationally recognized symbol for safe driving and serve as a constant reminder for drivers to prioritize safety when they get behind the wheel,” Mike Lutzenkirchen said.
Local police and law enforcement will distribute the keys when they pull drivers over for driving misconduct, speeding, lack of seat belt and other driving violations. It is hoped that the keys distributed will act as a physical reminder to avoid distracted and impaired driving.
Driver-license examiners will also distribute the keys and lanyards in their offices. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency makes it a primary goal to target drivers at an early age.
The initiative has a safe driving checklist: clear head, clear hands, clear eyes and click it. The initiative came as a result of a grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, which is an organization geared toward youth development.
The Lutzie 43 Foundation has been promoted by a long list of notable public figures, including Gus Malzahn, Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney. It has also made numerous partnerships with colleges and high schools to fulfill its mission of safe-driving awareness.
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