Global Epidemic

[derekeverett]

This (click here) is interesting, I guess it's Nelson Mandela's new cause.

I'd like to see this Global Road Safety Week generate mainstream interest, but I don't think it will. Driving has become so commonplace that I don't think much people give the danger any real thought, other than maybe drunk driving at night time.

It's frightening really how many people don't devote the attention they should to the act of safe driving. The focus is often on getting to where they are going instead of getting there safely. I also think texting and driving is going to be a MUCH bigger issue going into the future than alcohol and driving.

I was in a really bad car accident as a pre-teen. I lost my father in it and I spent a year in the hospital. Maybe that makes me a little more conscious of the risk involved in sitting in a tin box whipping by other tin boxes at 50 mph+, often separated by only a couple feet? I know for sure that becoming a dad made me an even more attentive when I'm behind the wheel.

Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts..

[BennyLaRue]

My thoughts are that you're the most random poster since the English guy with the girl with the teeth.

[derekeverett]

My thoughts are that you're the most random poster since the English guy with the girl with the teeth.

That could be. But the lack of interest in this thread further reinforces my stated belief that Global Road Safety Week isn't going to catch on. Which is unfortunate and odd.

I mean car accidents kill over a million people every year and injure scores of millions more, and not a lot of comment from anybody. Yet a couple bombs that kill 3 and injure a couple hundred cause a manhunt, the virtual shutdown of a major city, and a media firestorm. I'm not saying that the bombings didn't deserve that attention, but maybe driving safety could use a little extra attention for a week?

[kiwiMark]

I haven't read Long Walk to Freedom yet so I'm not clicking your link in case of spoilers

[Galapogos]

I mean car accidents kill over a million people every year and injure scores of millions more, and not a lot of comment from anybody.

This is why I always drive at least double the speed limit. There's some dangerous motherfuckers out there and I want to get off the road as soon as possible.

[Luco]

It's a sad fact that people don't tend to rally behind a cause unless (until) they've been affected by it. It's not just road safety, it's pretty much everything.

I'm pretty certain that I'd care a lot more if my brother / mother / brother from another mother had been involved in an accident. I'm a safe driver and all, never use my phone etc but I'm not about to go yelling at others to do the same.

[derekeverett]

It's a sad fact that people don't tend to rally behind a cause unless (until) they've been affected by it. It's not just road safety, it's pretty much everything.

I'm pretty certain that I'd care a lot more if my brother / mother / brother from another mother had been involved in an accident. I'm a safe driver and all, never use my phone etc but I'm not about to go yelling at others to do the same.

That's a refreshing dose of honesty. Not even sarcasm laden. Pretty accurate too I think.

[surviva316]

This is why I always drive at least double the speed limit. There's some dangerous motherfuckers out there and I want to get off the road as soon as possible.

This is why I always drive on the sidewalk. So many people die driving on the road, yet you never much hear about people dying on the sidewalk. Just my luck, though, that number's seemed to skyrocket since I adjusted my habits.

[Lukie]

I agree derek.

There are too many people out there who need to get to a place in 12 minutes instead of 13, or who are completely distracted texting while driving (or as it might more accurately be, driving while texting.)

How many dead or maimed people are out there because of it?

[surviva316]

Seriously though, I'm down with this. I think it's pretty ridiculous that only the biggest of wet blankets in the universe (including myself) frown on driving 80+ MPH. It seriously tilts me when I'm in the car with someone driving 90 MPH and changing lanes like an asshole, taking non-consensual chances with my life.

I think overall people just need to calm the fuck down, take a deep breath and enjoy the moment they're in instead of always rushing to their next appointment. I actually really really enjoy driving, thanks in large part to the fact that I have wondrous music on my phone. I belong to a Sport and Social league that's a 45 minute drive away both ways, and I look forward to listening to 90 mins of music without paying much attention to anything but the road and the music. Or if I borrow someone's car who doesn't have an aux cable, I turn the radio off altogether and think about philosophy or the next chapter in my novel or an argument I had with someone and what my reply should be and all that.

I do understand that traffic is aggravating and would deplore having to commute to work in rush hour 5 days a week, but that's no excuse because people aren't dying in accidents in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

[Luco]

Yeah being a passenger on those sort of rides is really tilting. You have to respect that their lives are in your hands.

[derekeverett]

I agree derek.

There are too many people out there who need to get to a place in 12 minutes instead of 13, or who are completely distracted texting while driving (or as it might more accurately be, driving while texting.)

How many dead or maimed people are out there because of it?

Seriously though, I'm down with this. I think it's pretty ridiculous that only the biggest of wet blankets in the universe (including myself) frown on driving 80+ MPH. It seriously tilts me when I'm in the car with someone driving 90 MPH and changing lanes like an asshole, taking non-consensual chances with my life.

I'm always aggravated and amazed at the stupidity of people, often grown-ass folks who should know better, that are speeding, tailgating, honking, and shifting lanes like maniacs just to end up at the same red light as me. It's insane. And it makes everybody else on the road angry, which nothing good ever comes from.

[derekeverett]

[rong]

Lol lol lol

Admittedly I've had a few but surviva and gala had me genuinely laughing out loud.

Right, I need to drive home! Seriously!

[rong]

Even more seriously, if I drive to London its about 280 miles or so. Mostly motorway. If I compare driving at 70mph to driving at 100mph, well, I guess I value my time greatly, which can be blamed on a society based on consumerism and typical working weeks in the UK, and quite simply I can save a lot of time and its just worth the risk.

[Savy]

It's a sad fact that people don't tend to rally behind a cause unless (until) they've been affected by it. It's not just road safety, it's pretty much everything.

I'm pretty certain that I'd care a lot more if my brother / mother / brother from another mother had been involved in an accident. I'm a safe driver and all, never use my phone etc but I'm not about to go yelling at others to do the same.

Doug Stanhope does a good bit about how Mitch Hedberg's wife has been campaigning for anti-drugs and I think they were (maybe even did) name a rehab centre after him and how stupid it all is because he fucking loved drugs.

[rong]

Don't worry guys, I made it home safely.

[kiwiMark]

did that one make perfect sense too?

[Savy]

did that one make perfect sense too?

The post just about does, some errors but easy to understand what I meant. The link was vague though.