I wish I had something better to say about the recent accident that killed two students at my sister’s school, one student at another school, and left another one in the hospital.  It’s very tragic.  I’ll link you up to the news stories:

• http://blogs.jsonline.com/nichols/archive/2007/11/28/ntsb-interested-in-i-43-crash.aspx
• http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22013658/
• http://www.wisn.com/news/14704785/detail.html
• http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22103779/

It looks like there are some key lessons to be learned for those who haven’t learned them already:

• Wear your seatbelt at all times
• Drive at a reasonable speed that you can manage
• Concentrate on driving – eliminate distractions such as phone calls, text messages, etc.
• Teach others you know (not just your children, but everybody) the importance of safe driving
• Realize the interdependence that vehicles on the road rely on
• Acknowledge that driving is not a right, but a privilege that can be taken away in the case of abuse

 I have very little sympathy for people who don’t protect themselves.  What is the point of all the new safety features in automobiles if we’re not doing the basics to keep ourselves safe?  Most automobiles that have airbags (from the little that I know about them) require that the seatbelt be engaged in order for the airbag to deploy in the case of an accident.  That’s one more thing that may have helped to save the lives of these kids if only they would have been taking care of themselves.  I can’t help but feel that this was irresponsibility to the point of suicide.  Let’s be reasonable here.  If I put together these elements:

1. I’m getting in a car with someone behind the wheel who has the reputation of driving too fast and being a bad driver.
2. I’m not putting on my seatbelt.

 I can’t expect anyone to feel anything about my death but pity and disgust.  All I can say is that I hope others learn the lessons here.  I hope people can start to understand the fragility of human life and the responsibility that comes with the possession of a driver’s license.  Anything short of that will only serve to create more death.