When is law enforcement in this country going to figure out that "I didn't see him/her" isn't a defense for poor operation of a vehicle?
In non-biking but very related news, Hilliard crossing guard Dianna L. Sharp was struck and killed yesterday when a dump truck sped through a school zone and nearly hit 8-year-old Christian Engle. Sharp through her body between Engle and the truck and was mortally wounded. Engle is in intensive care but is expected to recover.
The driver made the now-famous "I didn't see her" defense, of course.
Now I know some people are going to think that I'm being extraordinarily harsh on this poor driver. Perhaps I am. But this is just about the best example I've ever seen of how the driver of a vehicle needs to be aware of absolutely EVERYTHING around them while they are operating it. Here's a driver of a huge truck, operating in a well-marked school zone, while children are crossing the street. That driver needs to be on alert for absolutely ANYTHING at all times, but especially in such a situation. Kids run out into the street, or fall into the street, or aren't paying attention as they cross, etc.
And if the driver can't see everything around him or can't operate his vehicle safely, then he needs not to be driving it. It's as simple as that. Safety and human life absolutely HAVE to come first on our roads, not speed.
People, not speed.
In non-biking but very related news, Hilliard crossing guard Dianna L. Sharp was struck and killed yesterday when a dump truck sped through a school zone and nearly hit 8-year-old Christian Engle. Sharp through her body between Engle and the truck and was mortally wounded. Engle is in intensive care but is expected to recover.
The driver made the now-famous "I didn't see her" defense, of course.
Now I know some people are going to think that I'm being extraordinarily harsh on this poor driver. Perhaps I am. But this is just about the best example I've ever seen of how the driver of a vehicle needs to be aware of absolutely EVERYTHING around them while they are operating it. Here's a driver of a huge truck, operating in a well-marked school zone, while children are crossing the street. That driver needs to be on alert for absolutely ANYTHING at all times, but especially in such a situation. Kids run out into the street, or fall into the street, or aren't paying attention as they cross, etc.
And if the driver can't see everything around him or can't operate his vehicle safely, then he needs not to be driving it. It's as simple as that. Safety and human life absolutely HAVE to come first on our roads, not speed.
People, not speed.
Do you think that if I fired a round from my deer rifle and killed someone, I could get off by saying, "I didn't see her!"
ReplyDeleteNo?
I didn't think so either.
Ed - I couldn't have said it better myself. In fact, I didn't. :)
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time as a teen learning to drive, I was going way too fast in a mall parking lot. My dad (riding shotgun) calmly noted my excessive speed and asked me how I'd feel were I to run over some little kid that ran out in front of me. I never did it again.
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of thing people forget to consider, and one big reason as I drive so much less frequently, I feel so much less comfortable doing it. There is just so much at stake that driving is mentally tiring.
The thing that makes me think twice every time is "what if it was my kid?"
ReplyDelete