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Two Dead in a Year... When Will They Learn?

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Trip

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Eh.

I live in a little county of 12,000 in the middle of nowhere. No controlled traffic signals in the whole county, empty roads, etc.

And yet two of my school-mates have died this year in car wrecks.

The first was a very popular person, Matt Foster, who died on March 11 when the car flipped less than a half-mile from his house (he wasn't driving) and he died on impact with a broken neck. The driver walked away with bruises and the backseat passenger broke his collar-bone. The cause: speeding going into a sharp turn w/ a bridge.

The other, Tiffany Johnson died on September 13 when, apparently, she lost control of her SUV and went off the road and, again, died on impact with a broken neck. She was a mile from home. The cause: undetermined so far.

I was just talking to LX and one of Tiffany's cousins about it. Tiffany's cousin basically said she didn't seem like the kind that would speed, but here's the problem.

This county is extremely rural. It might be one of the most rural non-mountain counties in the mid-atlantic, I don't know. So there are lots of dirt roads, or roads with gravel on them for whatever reason, or roads with sharp/blind curves. I don't think that people realize just how dangerous the roads are here. The legal limit is 55MPH, but even on my own road I don't feel safe over 45 in most places, and over 35 around certain turns/intersections (particularly the intersection with a dirt road).

I think many people, especially people within my school, are very overconfident about their safety and their driving abilities. Heck, another of her cousins was talking about drag racing his truck TODAY, the day after his damn cousin died.

I don't know what it's going to take for people to understand. Matt's death pretty much paralyzed the school for three days.

And yet people didn't learn.

Thoughts?

- Trip
 
Most adolescents are overconfident when it comes to their driving abilities. They're in one of the two high-risk groups for traffic accidents (the other being elderly drivers). Here in Florida, we've had police crack down on drag racing among adolescents, since at least three people have been killed in separate accidents, including a kid who totalled a Corvette that his parents bought for him.

My thoughts are that driving is a privilege and not a right; if you choose to drive, do so defensively. Also consider not only the laws of the road but the laws of physics as well (which most people conveniently ignore until they're in an accident).
 
I can pretty much trust myself to drive safely, its all the other wackos on the road that make me nervous. I have a friend who got in 2 accidents in a WEEK (she wasnt hurt that bad, lucky for her) and the reason she got in those accidents was because...get this...she was txt messaging while driving. people like THAT should not be allowed to drive :[

one of my friends sisters died this year in an accident. she wasnt wearing a seatbelt. which is another dumb thing people do.

wear a seatbelt ppl!
 
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Driving accidents are always rough. An old buddy of mine just got in a nasty car accident and had to be medivac'd only about a week ago.

My school had a combination runaway/suicide last spring...That was really bad.
 
I think using mobile phones without a hands-free system is an offence is this country, but I don't remember. Doesn't stop people from doing it though.
 
Like I said last night, I dunno what's up with people but I forgot to mention I was in a couple cell phone related car accidents just outside of my college. I was commuting to campus and this lady from an office park across the street was yakking on her cell and nailed us. Another time, someone hit hit us in the back in the same spot!

Both people were talking on their cells and both times my dad's friend Ron had to tow us away. I spent time in the hospital because of a couple bumps and bruises.

People need to learn that you really should limit cell phone time in the car or not do it at all. Or at least use headsets as it hampers driving. Big thing was that it wasn't teenagers who hit us. Just people like in their 40s. So, there's morons all over the place.

LX
 
Let's ban cell-phones in cars, as well as changing radio stations, blinking and enjoying a delicious Big Bacon Classic whilst driving.
 
I hate when people talk on their cellphones. I dont even answer my phone because I know I cant concentrate on driving. I know that a few cities have the no cell phone rule, not sure if the one I live in is one of them. it doesnt seem to be thats for sure

I've seen people apply makeup, and even READ A BOOK while driving on the highway. no not a little road that you only go 30-40mph, but a highway. where the speed limit is 55mph.
 
Zhen, banning teenagers from driving isn't the problem. The problem is that it takes up to 5 years for a new driver to familiarize him/herself with the road. No matter the age, getting used to all the intricacies of driving isn't easy.
 
Crystal Mew said:
I hate when people talk on their cellphones. I dont even answer my phone because I know I cant concentrate on driving. I know that a few cities have the no cell phone rule, not sure if the one I live in is one of them. it doesnt seem to be thats for sure

I've seen people apply makeup, and even READ A BOOK while driving on the highway. no not a little road that you only go 30-40mph, but a highway. where the speed limit is 55mph.
Click to expand...

I've seen the read a book thing once or twice. I remember I was at a red light and a guy in an Element(Think tupperware box with suicide doors....or just google it) had a green as he was obviously on the street that intersected mine, so I'm sitting waiting for the light to change and he drives across, so his head is down and his eyes arent on the road, he then glances up for about 2 seconds, then continues to read. Idiots, I tell you.

Yeah, people should wear seatbelts. I'm starting to wear mine occasionally(I know, I know, I should wear it all the time) and I know people who wont move until everybody in the car is wearing their seatbelt. Most people are of the belief that(if the car is so equipped) 'Seatbelts? who needs it, Thats why theres an airbag' and heres the irony, right above their heads it says they should wear the belts because the airbag can kill. The speed limit? few follow it. Like on a road not to far from my house, the speed limit is 45, yet, if you decide to keep up with the flow of traffic, you'll find yourself anywhere between 60-80. This is because the road has little to no curves(and people take those at high speed) and the stop lights are far apart(they get ran, but the city is installing cameras to crack down on that.)

A kid posted a video of him driving wrecklessly to show off his mods, if I can track the video down, I'll post it.
 
Seatbelts are mandatory in Florida, and you risk getting a ticket otherwise (which can cost plenty). I started wearing one after a close friend had an accident in which she would have been decapitated had she not been wearing her seatbelt.
 
ah, I know they're manditory over in Jersey, and we had click it or ticket commercials on for a while here in PA, but you never see cops on our roads. It's like they're camoflauged and come out when they really need to. Now the interstates? i hear highway patrol is really tough, but ive never been.
 
Driving on the Interstates (I-95 comes to mind) without a seatbelt is basically asking for a ticket. The FHP (Florida Highway Patrol) is generally out en masse there, especially on holiday weekends.
 
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