Avoidable Tragedy

This past week I've been following a story in the paper about a fender bender. A Mom driving with her 4yr. old daughter rear-ended the car in front of her. No great speed,but enough to deploy both front airbags. Sadly for the little one,her mother gave in to her pleading to ride up front. The impact of the airbag severed her spinal cord. She was kept on life support for a few days and then taken off. God has another Angel in His garden. To me the real tragedy here is the fact that this was a death that never should have happened.

Ginger, It is very sad indeed, sent chills up my back as I read this. What a tragedy. I think we as parents are more likely to give in to our children these days. What a terrible thing for the mother to have to live with.

I couldn't even bring myself to read the story. When Granddarling torments us about riding in the front or without her booster, we always insist that she observe the rules. It's all too soon that she will be in the front, even driver's, seat, and I will lie awake nights.

How very true your comments are. When DS asks me to watch "the car seat kid" he knows the answer is no unless he leaves me the car seat. If he wants to use my car he also knows he had better have all kids properly secured or it will be the last time he gets to borrow it.

an even better solution is to avoid rear ending the car in front of you. there is no substitute,including all and any mandated safety devices, for a CAREFUL driver!

There's just a myriad of things that can happen when one's driving - you never know.

a split second of inattention can lead to tragedy. So sad to hear about another one of these accidents.

We had one a few years ago in Boise of the same type of case. Little one was decapitated. They were only going about 10 miles an hour from what I can remember.

I recently took a driving course to lower my insurance rates. In the class the instructor said when making a left turn while on a highway or road do not turn your wheels to the left keep them aligned straight. The reason is that if one is rear-ended you are pushed into oncoming traffic. It wasn't a week before I read in the newspaper of a mother and daughter doing just that. The car was rear-ended and she was pushed into oncoming traffic and hit by a truck. They were killed. I never knew this and repeat it here for anyone else who has never thought about it.

Thanks...I never thought about that

trillium, I learned that long ago, and have seen over the years how important that can be! Thanks for sharing that important tip!

HUH? I don't understand, yet another time. How can you make a left turn without turning your wheels to the left?

Aimee I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I mean when you are waiting to make the turn and are sitting there waiting for a clearing in traffic you should keep your wheels facing straight ahead, then when it is safe to turn, turn the wheel and accelerate and make your turn.

This driving course was through AARP for over 50 drivers, cost $10 and the following month I got a check for $18 from my insurance co. as a prorated refund. It is open to people who are not members of AARP.

I took a similar course some years ago, and then repeated it when renewal time rolled around. Got the discount, but they didn't tell us this!