Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Slow down, save lives


Please take into consideration and contemplation what I'm about to tell you. The recklessness of the drivers in the Wood River Valley is becoming a dangerous problem. Every week when I open the newspaper to read about the police blotter I see that another reckless driver was reported and not found.

It is very frustrating to me when you are going the speed limit or maybe even 5 mph over the speed limit and someone passes you on a curve, or they try and pass five cars at once, and some even ride your bumper for five miles until they're able to pass. It is sad that these drivers are willing to risk their lives and the lives of others to save five minutes of their time. I have followed these people going the same speed I was going when they passed me, and by the time we get into town we were bumper-to-bumper; their passing is senseless just to be one car ahead of someone.

I relocated here from Las Vegas, Nev., hoping to get away from the traffic and the craziness of a big city, where bumper-to-bumper accidents happened 10 times a day and a fatal one maybe once a month, if that. But when I came here it seems if there is an accident on the highway there is almost always a fatality. There are more then 20 crosses from here to Twin Falls marking the death of loved ones. I can't believe the impatience that comes out of these thoughtless drivers. So many of our youths have been killed on that road from drivers that do not take into consideration other people, or from our youths being able to drive such long distances and faster speeds then their skills are ready for.

Even our cities' side streets are dangerous to drive on. I was going down one of our back streets that connects to Main Street and a teenager in a Jeep with a bunch of his friends was going probably about 40 mph on an intersecting street and not slowing for cross traffic. If I had left my house just 15 seconds earlier my 3-year-old daughter would have been killed, becoming another statistic in this very sad world of incompetent drivers. I wanted to file charges but was unable to because I could not distinguish the driver from his four other friends. But hopefully the warning will slow him down. Maybe someone will read this and remember one of their loved ones passing from an accident that could have been prevented and take a stand that I am taking: No more arrogant and impatient drivers.

I know that one voice can sometimes make a small dent in the minds of others, but I hope the small dent that this article might create in the minds of readers, can be used and will encourage others to talk to others and spread the word of safety. Or maybe you might be one of those impatient drivers. Please, I beg of you to just think of those innocent lives you risk to save five minutes out of your day, or maybe picture that when your driving the other drivers on the road are all your family members. I know you would never want to hurt them just to save time in your day.

Cindy Bailey

Hailey




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