A parishioner was in a car accident. A rant.

[Critters2]

He's okay. Big cut on the side of his head needing 9 staples, and some bruising, but his car is totalled. I can't imagine how he walked away. I just saw the car.

He was slowing down to enter a construction zone when a car came up behind him, speeding. He was rear ended. His car looks like an accordion, with the rear end and back seat just folded up together. The troopers told him that anyone in the back seat would've been killed. He was alone, but they have two children, a 4 year old and a 6 month old. Oftentimes, they would've been in the back seat. Their car seats were destroyed.

It makes me FURIOUS that people drive like this, taking other people's lives for granted!! Where was this driver going in such a Goddamn hurry that it was worth risking his life and those of any poor soul who got in his way?!! It's an interstate, not a race track!!! I wish they would pull this guy's license, but I know they won't. He'll be back out there, risking others' lives as soon as his car's out of the shop. 45,000 Americans die in car accidents every year! 45,000!! 3,000 died on 9/11. Where's the outrage for the 45,000? Where's the great mobilization to avenge them?! What if those children had been in those car seats? What about all the children who are? Why are we not outraged by these wasted lives?!

:rant:

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Thank heavens he is ok and that the kids weren't with him. I know people who speed and I

get on their case for it.

[alarimer]

2. Speeding is a major factor in car accidents.

It makes them much worse. Simple physics, really. Yet, if he had been hit by a drunk driver, that driver would have been arrested. Since he was "only" speeding, he just got a ticket, probably. How is that justice? I am not suggesting reducing the penalties for drunk driving (although these more punitive measures have not actually reduced the numbers of accidents) but maybe we need to increase the penalties and fines for speeding. Or maybe just having more police visibly watching for speeders would cause people to slow down.

[LisaL]

3. His car insurance also should go up.

[Critters2]

16. Yeah. I assume it will. nt

[DarkTirade]

4. A vehicle is a deadly weapon.

And it should be as hard to get a license for one as it is to get a license for any other deadly weapon. And as easy to lose.

[TommyO]

7. A vehicle is a transportation device, not a deadly weapon

It's primary purpose is to move people around, not to kill them.

[DarkTirade]

10. It is both.

And anyone who pretends otherwise is a danger to the people around them.

[fizzgig]

14. a car's primary purpose does not make it any less deadly of a weapon

to me it's no different than a hammer or a crowbar or something like that. it's primary purpose may not be to kill people, but it can still be used as a deadly weapon.

[Oeditpus Rex]

23. It's hard to convince people that they're driving a 'deadly weapon'

when they're surrounded by such creature comforts as six-speaker stereo systems (and sometimes video), cushy seats that adjust to near-infinity, cell phones and GPS devices, climate control, soundproofing, tires and suspension systems that virtually eliminate vibration, front and side air bags, "crumple zones" and 536 cup holders.

We don't drive cars anymore. We drive living rooms.



(My truck has lap belts. That's it. I don't feel as if I'm secure in the womb when I drive, so I'm accordingly careful.)

[fizzgig]

24. i agree

i drive an 82 volvo wagon, so i feel pretty safe in my car, but i still drive pretty safely. i will admit, however, that sometimes i have a hard time keeping myself from just doing a demolition derby-style rampage against the idiots in their tupperware cars.

[tigereye]

29. Volvo's are like tanks

A friend of a friend survived a horrific accident in one.

[fizzgig]

30. yes they are

years ago some of my friends were in a nasty accident on the interstate involving a large sand truck. but, because they were in a volvo, all of them walked away from it.

[tigereye]

31. several of my friends have bought used ones...

but the Cartalk guys say Volvos are a PITA to fix.

[fizzgig]

34. depends on the model

speaking from my limited experience, on the whole, the 240s and 740s are pretty easy to fix. except for the heater fans in the 240s. apparently volvo suspended the heater fan in midair and built the car around it.

our volvo guys, however, warned my dad to stay away from the 850s. a friend of mine has an 850 and said it's nothing but a pita to fix

[DarkTirade]

32. And that's what frightens me the most.

Most people are in complete denial of that fact. I know at least one person who is one of the kindest people I've ever known... but on the road he tailgates and slips in and out of traffic and generally drives like a complete and utter asshole. I don't feel safe in a car with him. Yet he just doesn't seem to even notice that he's doing anything dangerous.

[Oeditpus Rex]

35. Which is why I drive defensively

People in later-model cars are cocooned; they have too much security relative to mine when I'm driving.

[whistler162]

5. If the accident happened in the construction zone....

and depending on Illionis law the speeder may face fairly harsh penalties, especially if they have been caught speeding in a construction zone before.

Glad that all are okay and hopefully the speeder feels the full weight of the law and courts.

[Critters2]

9. It was technically not in the construction zone. Just a few yards away, apparently,

but not legally in the zone. If he had been in the zone, the speeding ticket would be $375.00. Still not enough, imo.

He was ticketed for speeding, failing to reduce speed to enter a construction zone, and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Seems like there was a fourth charge, but I can't recall. My friend said the Trooper was really pissed at the driver, and was trying to throw the book at him. I hope it works out that way.

[LisaM]

6. I don't understand the aggressiveness that leads to speeding

I agree that it should be treated every bit as harshly as drunk driving (and for that matter, sleep-dreprived driving). We drive through downtown Seattle every morning and you'd think it was a NASCAR track with all the tailgating, lane changes, and unnecessary passing.

Part of it has to do with cars that are way too powerful for what people need, too much traffic on the roads, and a lack of driver's ed (IMO).

[Critters2]

15. It is an aggressiveness. I don't understand it either,

but it is really dangerous.

[supernova]

8. Most states have fairly strict penalties

for speeding through construction zones. I'm guessing the speeder was hurt? Or if totally schnockered, maybe not.


I am glad that he was able to walk away and that his children weren't with him in that instance.

Scary.

[Critters2]

12. Technically, the accident wasn't in the construction zone, but near it.

The speeder had at least one broken leg that my friend knows of. Because G, my parishioner, had a head injury and was bleeding badly, they whisked him away from the scene pretty quickly.

[LisaL]

17. Was the other guy declared to be at fault?

His insurance should cover the damages to your parishioner if that is the case.

[Critters2]

19. Yes. He was declared at fault. In Illinois, he's at fault simply by virtue

of the fact that he was the only one ticketed. I learned this when I was rear-ended on Interstate 74 9 years ago. The guy who hit me was ticketed for driving too fast for conditions. I wasn't ticketed at all, so he was at fault. His insurance picked up everything for me and the car in front of me that I hit.

[flvegan]

11. The culprit is usually a lack of attentiveness coupled with driving

beyond your abilities.

Glad your parishioner is okay.

[Critters2]

13. Thanks, flvegan. It's really stunning that he's okay, considering what his car looks like. nt

[unpossibles]

18. Jusr a guess, but was the other vehicle a truck or SUV?

just curious

[Critters2]

20. G called it a van. I didn't see it, so don't know if it was a standard

panel truck type van, or a mini-van.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

21. We think of cars as "normal" and accidents as a necessary risk

Many people are afraid to fly because they've heard of plane crashes.

Many people are afraid to go downtown in large cities because they've heard of street crime.

Many people are afraid to walk in their own neighborhoods, or worse yet, allow their children to play in their own neighborhoods.

Yet every day, millions of people climb into cars and strap their children into car seats, even though driving and being a passenger in a car are infinitely more likely to get a person killed or seriously injured than either a plane crash, a street crime incident, or the extremely rare crime of child snatching.

[Critters2]

22. Since my accident, years ago, I refuse to drive on really crowded highways.

And by refuse, I mean refuse!! I will not drive on the interstates in the suburbs. This pisses people off, because it means I won't serve on any committees which meet at our conference office (which should located in the center of the conference anyway, but I digress), and won't go into the city if I have to drive. People assume I won't go into the city because of crime or whatever. Not so. If I could get to the city without dealing with the tollways and freeways, I'd go in a second. But I will not fight with crazy people in cars. I don't need to, and I refuse to do so.

All of which could be avoided if this country had decent public transportation. But that's another rant for another thread.

[kentauros]

25. Or another forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=398

;)

What's even more maddening is that we have the technology right now for automated cars, or "robot cars" where we don't have to do the driving. However, the Big Three (and probably others) won't design their cars for that scenario, because (get this) they "don't want to take the fun out of driving." My guess is none of these CEOs have a clue about what kind of "fun" driving the majority of us do on a daily basis and how rare it is to be given the opportunity to truly have a fun time driving...

[Critters2]

26. Hey, thanks! I didn't even know that forum existed.

Nor did I know that we could have "robot cars". That would be great!

Again, thanks!

[DarkTirade]

33. Unfortunately our country was built on a car economy

and so now most places aren't even set up in such a way that public transportation would be ABLE to work well. :banghead:

[SoxFan]

27. This calls for a smiting!

[tigereye]

28. I agree - was the guy on his cell-phone?

Some folks drive with NO concern for anyone else around them, and that is what scares me the most. (that and drunk drivers.) :grr:

If it's any consolation, the State cops here often cite people for driving at excessive speeds in a construction zone and there is a huge fine.



I am glad his kids were not in the car, and that he is ok.

[Blue Gardener]

36. People who speed through residential neighborhoods

Really piss me off. The speed limit is 25, not 50. There are kids everywhere, people backing out of driveways, etc. I just don't understand why people can't just slow the hell down and pay attention. Jackasses.
I'm glad this gentleman will be ok. He's very lucky.

[applegrove]

37. That is really scary. I promise I will watch my speed in the future.