From the Editor
Advocate for Safety
I've been called to hospital emergency rooms three different times after three different car accidents involving each of my three children. There's no greater panic than to hear sirens or hospital intercom messages in the background as a voice explains, "There's been an accident." The world stops. "Be calm," I tell myself. Breathe. Think. Nothing in the world is important at that time other than getting to my child's side.
My children were all under the age of 21 when the vehicles they were in were considered "totaled" by the insurance company. Two were passengers, one was a driver; all were single car accidents. No drinking, speeding, or reckless driving was involved; in fact, two accidents happened in daylight. The older two children weren't wearing seatbelts, however, and were thrown out of the vehicles. Yes, they and the drivers had some experience. One driver fell asleep at the wheel, one was driving an unfamiliar car on an unfamiliar and busy highway, and one was driving on icy roads. The accidents could've happened to anyone, but statistics are higher with younger drivers.
I cried while gathering up personal belongings from the vehicles, thanking God my children survived with minimal injuries, none permanent. I can't imagine how parents cope with the death of their children. My heart aches each time I hear of such tragedy.
Laws for obtaining drivers licenses have become stricter through the years, with more hours of instruction, time behind the wheel, etc., and they vary from state to state. Graduated drivers license programs are now in place in most states, and under consideration are laws against cell phone usage while driving.
Advocacy groups such as the American Red Cross and Children's Hospital of Illinois often present programs to high school students urging the seriousness of total concentration on driving and consequences for not being alert. Prom and party time, drinking and driving, etc. These programs aren't generously funded and sometimes lack volunteers. This spring-and all year long-consider what role you can play in the safety of your own children. They can be innocent of any wrongdoing, but just be in the wrong place at the wrong time. They need encouragement to tell their friends how to drive safely-or not to get in the car with them. It takes only a second for lives to be changed forever.
While I, at first, scoffed at the idea of outlawing cell phone usage while driving, I've changed my mind. I've thought a couple times how I would handle the anguish if I actually heard the crash of a vehicle while I was talking to the driver on the phone or I was distracted enough to cause an accident. Statistics are proving drowsiness and distraction by talking on the phone are almost as bad as driving while under the influence.
I'll adjust my behavior and pull off the road to make that call if it will save a life.
Will you? TPW
My children were all under the age of 21 when the vehicles they were in were considered "totaled" by the insurance company. Two were passengers, one was a driver; all were single car accidents. No drinking, speeding, or reckless driving was involved; in fact, two accidents happened in daylight. The older two children weren't wearing seatbelts, however, and were thrown out of the vehicles. Yes, they and the drivers had some experience. One driver fell asleep at the wheel, one was driving an unfamiliar car on an unfamiliar and busy highway, and one was driving on icy roads. The accidents could've happened to anyone, but statistics are higher with younger drivers.
I cried while gathering up personal belongings from the vehicles, thanking God my children survived with minimal injuries, none permanent. I can't imagine how parents cope with the death of their children. My heart aches each time I hear of such tragedy.
Laws for obtaining drivers licenses have become stricter through the years, with more hours of instruction, time behind the wheel, etc., and they vary from state to state. Graduated drivers license programs are now in place in most states, and under consideration are laws against cell phone usage while driving.
Advocacy groups such as the American Red Cross and Children's Hospital of Illinois often present programs to high school students urging the seriousness of total concentration on driving and consequences for not being alert. Prom and party time, drinking and driving, etc. These programs aren't generously funded and sometimes lack volunteers. This spring-and all year long-consider what role you can play in the safety of your own children. They can be innocent of any wrongdoing, but just be in the wrong place at the wrong time. They need encouragement to tell their friends how to drive safely-or not to get in the car with them. It takes only a second for lives to be changed forever.
While I, at first, scoffed at the idea of outlawing cell phone usage while driving, I've changed my mind. I've thought a couple times how I would handle the anguish if I actually heard the crash of a vehicle while I was talking to the driver on the phone or I was distracted enough to cause an accident. Statistics are proving drowsiness and distraction by talking on the phone are almost as bad as driving while under the influence.
I'll adjust my behavior and pull off the road to make that call if it will save a life.
Will you? TPW