CRASH Sheds Light on Distracted Driving

Route 12 will be filled by hundreds of motorcyclists and other commuters, Saturday, as they roll into town as part of an event organized to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.

Members of CRASH Coalition, a nonprofit group that stands for Coalition for Responsibility and Accountability on our Streets and Highways, organized the second annual Epic Memorial Ride. Riders and drivers will follow the same route they did last year, which begins at Geneva Lakes Kennel Club, 2128 E. Geneva St. in Delavan, WI, and finishes with an afternoon of activities at Paulus Park, 400 Whitney Rd. in Lake Zurich.

Greg Zaffke, president of CRASH Coalition, said last year’s ride included approximately 500 motorcycle riders and a dozen other car and truck drivers. This year as many as 1,000 total vehicles will be allowed to register, and Zaffke said he hopes more people from outside the motorcycle community take part.

“Distracted driving isn’t only a problem for motorcyclists,” Zaffke said. “It’s pedestrians and car drivers and truck drivers, everyone on the road.”

Zaffke’s mother, Anita Zaffke, was killed in a crash involving a distracted driver in 2009.

Zaffke said CRASH Coalition is different than other organizations that advocate against distracted driving because, instead of focusing solely on cell phone use, his organization considers all distractions extremely dangerous – whether it be speaking on the phone, entering information into a GPS device or eating a cheeseburger.

To attract more people to the event Zaffke said two BMX stunt shows, advanced motorcycle riding demonstrations, live music, a silent auction and a vendor area were added to the rally, which will take place at Paulus Park at the end of the ride.

Erik Hart, a CRASH Coalition board member and Palatine Harley Owners Group member, an organization that supported last year’s ride as well, said the event was originally built as a memorial, but they are trying to evolve it into something for the entire community. Hart said he hopes families and others, not necessarily part of the motorcycle community, feel welcome to attend.

“Bikers are not all big, bad, burly people,” Hart said. “Bikers are some of the most charitable people overall.”

The proceeds from the Epic Memorial Ride will go toward a number of CRASH Coalition initiatives, including an education program Zaffke is developing for high schools and other venues, he said. Zaffke, who is also a website designer, said he has been working hard on a simulator that will demonstrate how much distractions degrade an operator’s ability to drive.

CRASH Coalition, which began as the Black Nail Brigade in 2010, recently merged with the Moto-Angel Foundation because the two organizations’ missions meshed together well, Zaffke said. Moto-Angel Foundation’s aim to help families of downed motorcycle drivers easily folded into a part of CRASH Coalition’s mission, which is to help all families of distracted driving crash victims, not just those involving motorcycles.

A silent auction, the Epic Charity Auction, includes products and services contributed by local businesses. Motorcycles and memorabilia, bicycles, travel packages and photography by Anita Zaffke will be auctioned online as well as at the event, Zaffke said. People can even text in their bids, he added.

Jim Baber, co-owner of Cycle Werks, 126 N. Cook St. in Barrington, said this was the first time his business contributed items to a charity in this way, but has supported other local charities in other ways. Four BMW motorcycles and clothing from his shop will be offered in the auction, he said.

Barber had a simple answer as to why his business was supporting the event.

“I just think it’s the right thing,” Barber said.

For more information and to register, visit the Epic Memorial Ride Web site.