My husband and friend will often tease me, "Oh no. Fix The Toaster" is at it again. I joke that I'll look like a real ass if I die in a car accident.
Joking aside, chances are pretty high I might die in a car accident.
Sorry to be a Debby Downer, but so are yours.
Your odds of dying in a motor vehicle accident are 1 in 83, that's over your lifetime (if that's of comfort)
Your odds of dying while flying are 1 in 5,000, to offer some comparison.
Anyways, I know car accidents will always happen, I get it. I drive safely or rather I try my best. But those odds need to change.
Yesterday, after taking my two kids who are 17 months apart out and having them cry off and on for the entire outing I finally got them both in the car and was happy to get out of the garage.
I was at a light when my 2 1/2 year-old said, "Mom, I'm not buckled in!"
I threw the car into park, got out and buckled him in, not before kissing him and telling him thank you for telling me. I make mistakes.
I have accidents. (not car related, knock on wood)
I try very hard to drive defensively and I hope that I never cause a car accident.
But things happen, this I get. My point here is that:
1. Accidents happen but most that are happening are preventable.
2. I'm not saying that I'm impervious to car accidents or a fantastic driver.
I know that my heightened awareness for this topic is partly driven by the beautiful souls that are covered in fragile bones and flesh, that I drive around daily. What Lori Coble has had to go through blows my mind. She lost all three of her children in a car accident.
Remembering-Kyle-Emma-and-Katie-Coble-Video
Even though car accidents will always happen so much can and should be done right now to change this.
Infrastructure should be looked at, merging when given only a few hundred feet is absurd and dangerous.
Speed should be reconsidered.
Driving distracted heavily examined.
Driving thoughtfully. As our contributor Scott Marshall said, driving is a team sport, I love that thought.