[canali]

good quote but don't expect things to change as per many the driving accidents and fatalities stemming from younger drivers

....an excerpt from your post says it all, and has been echoed earlier, too:
"When I was that age, and if my buddy were driving like that (reckless) in his brand new BMW, I would've
said "Dude, that was fucking awesome!". And now, if I heard someone telling that story that I knew,
I would have to work very hard not to slug him across the face."

the problem is the perennial theme of youth, with its heightened testosterone levels, coupled with strong peer pressure
to be the 'cool alpha male' in a fast machine...add alcohol or drugs and then
finish it off with a good dollop of speed and you've got all the elements of 'the perfect storm' just itchin' to collide.

attitudes imo will only change by the pressure of one's peers, when a tragedy happens in their inner circle
and thus finally hits home. makes them wake them up to the fact that driving with the attitude of invincibility
(aka 'the fast and the furious') on busy public roadways is largely illusory, and 'tis for the stuff of Hollywood and make belief.


---------------------

Originally Posted by Graeme S

I have no idea about this guy's background. Or the passenger's background. Or anything else for that matter. And to be perfectly honest, I really don't care.


Two people died that night. Many more were injured. And while we regret the passing of those who are now lost to us, this does not change the manner in which they died. We do not know the details of the accident yet. It may be that he swerved because of something that fell off another car. It may be that he was "taking his new car for a rip" and lost control. It may be something else.

But they are dead.


Defending their lives will not change that they are dead. Other people are injured, and they are dead. Their parents are mourning and they are dead.

Getting angry at the people who say things you don't like will not bring them back from the dead. It will also not stop others from dying. If you feel upset and angry and depressed because your friends are dead, don't get angry at the people who are saying things you don't want to hear. Get angry at the people who put others in your family at risk.

Just the other day, I was driving with my mom on a small side street. Two-way, with parking. I was driving at just under 50, and each block has stop signs at the beginning and end. Some fucking retarded yahoo whose plate I couldn't make out quickly enough (with an N!) decided to pass me on the left, across a solid yellow line (luckily not into incoming traffic) going at least 80 clicks.


When I was that age, and if my buddy were driving like that in his brand new BMW, I would've said "Dude, that was fucking awesome!". And now, if I heard someone telling that story that I knew, I would have to work very hard not to slug him across the face. Because my mother's reactions are slow. Because my mother would not guess that someone would be going half again the speed limit in the oncoming lane. Because my mother has osteoporosis and would be at a greater risk for a fatal injury from a sudden head-on impact with that kind of speed differential.

Because I love my mother more than I love others' adrenaline rushes.


If you are sad, I sympathize. If you knew the victim, I offer condolences. If you are angry, good.




Go out there and do something to help solve the problem.