When People Make Traffic Errors How Do You Respond?

Yesterday while waiting to take a right a young, high school student began to walk in front of me. She had the walk sign.

A woman started to turn into her.

The woman saw the girl and stopped half way in the intersection.

She had made a mistake.

A car was coming at the woman who made the mistake. She threw out her arm and hand mouthing sorry. She looked very worried.

The person driving at her sped at her and laid on his/her horn. Scaring the woman. Threatening her with, death or injury.

The car went around her and all was well.

But I wonder why do we threaten others when they make an error while driving? Why do  we help other humans when they drop something, if we see them fall we go to them and ask if they are all right. I see wonderful acts of humanity daily but mostly out of the car.

When we are driving if we see someone make a mistake we honk, we go faster, we flip them off. Acts of anger are quick to be displayed. But to error is to be human, right?

Honestly just a new thought. What are your thoughts about this?

I made a driving error two days ago. I was too relaxed on the 134 East and I was on a part I normally hadn't gone on before two lanes started to merge and suddenly I woke to full attention. I couldn't safely get over as a car was coming at around 80 to my left but the car behind me was mad at me. He wasn't slowing down enough to let me safely in between him and the car in front of him. I began beeping rapidly flapping a hand saying please let me in. He had his window down and he finally slowed a bit. I screwed up.

But just another example of being threatened.

I think humans need a mental health check about how we drive.

Thanksgiving is One Of the Deadliest Holidays

Sorry, that is not a very uplifting title. But is is the truth and the truth seems to be ignored or accepted and that, to me, is ridiculous.

According to an article from Forbes:

In 2008, "502 people were killed on the road that day. On a typical day, 102 people die in traffic accidents. Robert Sinclair, a spokesman for AAA, says the combined factors of more than 50% more drivers on the road and higher-than-usual alcohol consumption contribute to its danger."

502 people died on Thanksgiving!!! In their cars.

That's nuts.

Yet, we don't talk about it. When I talk about it often I'm met with smirks. But when I keep talking people usually become somber and say, yeah, yeah, it is weird.

I hope you and your loved ones have a safe and nice holiday.

The facts are a lot of people will die in the next week in car accidents. But I guess that is currently the American way. My family will be on the roads as well. It is hard for me to put us in a car, zipping along, knowing the numbers in my head. On California freeways. But I don't want my fear to cripple me or my kids. So I will put my beloved treasures out there. And just hope. While of course, driving as safely as I can.

I Forgot to Buckle My 2 Year-Old Into His Car Seat

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.

Contributor Shannon Noel Webb weighs in on using a Kid Alert! Street Sign

This is a post by Fix The Toaster contributor Shannon Noel Webb.  Meet Frank.

Frank moved into our neighborhood about a year ago.  He’s a nice guy.  The quiet type.  But he carries a big stick.  Literally, he never puts that flag down.  And he always wears that red hat. Isn’t he cute?  We just love Frank.  He’s a safety guard and his job is to save the lives of our children.  And let me tell you something, Frank is good at his job.

Rumor has it that he moved across the country to be with us.  We did some research and we think he used to live here and that it only cost him $29.95 total in moving expenses.

My neighbors and I feel so lucky to have Frank looking out for our kids.  We live on a narrow street in the hills of Los Angeles.  It’s steep and curvy.  Our front yards are the sidewalks and the driveways and this is where our little ones play.  People drive so fast down our little street.  We don’t understand it at all.  Frank says it’s because everyone is in such a hurry these days.  He says people text and read e-mails while they drive.  He thinks people are angry and fed up with all kinds of things in the world which also makes them drive faster.  He says there’s only one thing to do: Make people notice.  Make them have to slow down to pass by.  So that’s what he does.  He stands in the middle of the street whenever any of our kids are playing and he makes people notice!

And he has saved a life.  Look at this:

This is my oldest, almost falling off the curb.  This happens, it’s a tough turn for a tricycle.  I know some readers might be wondering how I could just stand there taking pictures while this was happening.  Believe me, I was having a minor heart attack and running towards him, which is why this picture is fuzzy.  But see, Frank was there too.  He’s like a secret service man, throwing himself in front of a car or a bullet to protect our kids.  And this car slowed down the minute he saw that little red hat.  You do not mess with Frank.

We know that Frank can’t do it all by himself.  We parents are there, monitoring our little ones, but it takes a village and we’re very happy to have Frank living in ours.

6,484 People Die in LA Every Year in Car Crashes

Living in Los Angeles I am faced with driving around millions of people daily. I have seen far more accidents then I ever did living anywhere else. It is a part of our daily lives here.

After driving by the accident on the 134 West last night I couldn't help but think of the people in those cars, their soft flesh possibly hurt. Their spirits possibly gone.

Because their fragile bodies could not handle the impact of going, say 70MPH to 0 in a second.

I just looked up how many people die in LA  each year.  6,484 people die in Los Angeles every year in due to car crashes. That is a lot of people.

You argue, yes but there are a lot of people living in Los Angeles. True, but should we just sit back and take it that, that's a given? Car crashes are not cancer. We don't need to do a ton of research going after then unknown. Sometimes I feel like we are just a bunch of fatalists regarding car crashes.

There are some answers.

There are ways to help lower the amount of deaths. But are we willing to sacrifice 15 minutes here or there? Will the car companies let new advances that are available now happen?

Check out how many people die in your city here.