Weekly Safety Tip

[78F350]

In the accident on October 14th that I opened this thread with, the driver of the truck was unhurt and I expect that the driver of the car died. The last I saw him was when they were loading him in the ambulance to bring him to the hospital 100 yards away. I did not follow up. The truck driver was in hysterical grief. She knew that she had just killed a stranger. She was not racing, or speeding. She had just looked away from the road for a few seconds. When she saw that the light had changed, she just couldn't stop in time and it likely ended one life and changed hers Forever.

I have been working in Oklahoma as an EMS helicopter pilot for over 10 years. I have waited for patients to be extracted from mangled vehicles, hearing their shrieks become moans and then silence. Returning to our base, no longer needed. Two brothers speeding on the back roads, lost control. Little brother thrown from the car, elder trapped inside and unable to get to him while he died. A pick-up goes a little too fast over a blind hill and crosses lanes just enough to kill a young couple heading the other way, their infant (now orphan) in back critically injured, but alive. On and on. Cops, EMS, and firemen know the stories.

I still do stupid things while I'm driving. I still can convince myself that with my superior skills and awesome cars, I can get away with things that 'ordinary people' can't. ...and I know that I am wrong and no better than that truck driver.
Racing on public roads? If anything, I think it shows weakness and misplaced pride. Stronger and humble is a better way to be.