submitted by Barbara Oliver - President, Ladies Auxiliary
The Buddy Program is a Highway Safety program aimed at informing police about the location of a motorist who becomes stranded on the nation's highways. VFW and Ladies Auxiliary Post #7135 will participate in this program by providing protection and service to stranded motorists in this area.
Lafayette Police Chief Jerry Dallas and Macon County Sheriff Joe Ferguson have been notified and they think this is a good program.
The program's goal is to minimize the wait from the time of a breakdown until the police are able to reach the motorist and call a motor club or someone else for assistance. A major goal is to make it unnecessary for the motorists with a Highway Safety Sign to abandon their vehicle and walk miles to phone to call for help. The VFW announced that this program will be supported be over the road professional drivers.
The local VFW Post has these signs available to the public for $3 each.
The yellow banner which displays the VFW emblem and the words "HELP, CALL POLICE" can be kept in the glove box, purse of briefcase. In the event of an emergency, the 15 inch x 36 in banner can be unfolded and placed on the inside of a car window or attached to the outside of a car, trailer, truck, or RV. the Buddy System relies on the promise of its 2 million members nationwide to carryout the pledge
1. Do not stop, Honk 3 times
2. Note Location and as soon as possible
3. Call police for help
Important points are 1. - WHY you don't stop when you see the Buddy System sign? there is a remote likelihood of a trap being laid for the unsuspecting good Samaritan. These often have been reported in the media. There is, however, a much greater danger that the car stops to help may be struck by a passing vehicle. This type of accident, unfortunately, is quite common. It is also unlikely that the stopping motorist has the item or expertise that the stranded motorist needs and will just end up leaving to call for help.
2. WHY you blow your horn three times and note location the three honks constitute a promise. It lest the stranded motorist know police will be called. The motorist, who may have already lost hope and gotten ready to start walking, will now know that help will be sent and they should stay. Staying with the car is safer.
3. WHY you call the police. Police want to be informed. It is well documented that police depend on traveling motorists to be their "eyes and ears" on the highway. The growth of cellular phone use is making this even more important to the police. The interval between routine patrols can be quite long. The sooner the police arrive, the less likely some other motorists will stop or that harm might befall the stranded motorists is one of the duties the police are trained, qualified and paid to do.
Anyone interested in purchasing a Highway Safety Sign may do so at the VFW Hall located at 119 Main Street in Lafayette. the VFW is open every Thursday from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. or they may call Ed Barber at 666-3244 or Barbara Oliver at 666-7750. The price of the banner is $3.
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