3 Die...Will it ever stop?

[Nazgul280]

How many people here got into some kind of accident with their first car?

I did. I looked over to change the radio while I was leaving High School and rearended the girl in front of me. My dad made me pay for the damage, so I learned a valuable lesson there, but I still drove it like I stole it (I just didn't change the radio station anymore!).

These days when I find myself being tailgated by a teen, I try to just get out of the way.

[blue 72]

Not really a recent phenomenon. As long as there have been irresponsible people (teenagers included) and automobiles, there have been these kind of incidents. Everyone does stupid things behind the wheel from time to time. Those of us who survive the stupidity and learn from it / from others' stupidity go on to be more responsible drivers.

Fixing the situation would require much more education in my opinion. Since that costs money and time, there will always be those not interested in pursuing it. That would include local and national government programs, continuing all the way down to parents and peers. Even still there will be those who ignore what they have learned. At least we could reduce the amount of carnage if we took a more proactive approach.

[justinr54321]

I still say it today, but a 6 month long class of driver's education before you get your first license should be mandatory in this country. Just the other day when I was on my way home from putting in an app at the local union hall, a guy in his late 20's was tailgating me in a charger, and I was already going 5 over, (bad habit of mine). He already alomst rear ended me twice. I slow down to let him pass, and he doesn't, so I speed back up, and he doesn't pass. Then he starts to high beam me in the middle of the day. Mind you there is nothing wrong with my car. He did this for about 10 miles, so I braked checked him, and he finally goes around.

Anyhow, I know I've done some pretty stupid things as well. My first car was a 1997 Toyota Tercel 4 door, California roads...

But, to continue on with what I was saying, 6 months of driver's education, both classroom and practical, a defensive driving course, with videos of everything that has happened of the crashes with people being stupid. And the point system in this country should be more strict.

Ok, I'm done ranting. It just saddens me to see innocent bystanders getting killed for someone elses mistakes, and my heart goes out to all affected in this.

[conedodger]

I have a 4000 RPM pill for my MSD6AL. My son hasn't figured it out. He thinks I have some program installed in the EFI that senses his key. It's good enough for freeway speed but takes forever and lots of shifting to go quickly in street traffic.

To answer the question asked in the thread title... No. I don't think it will ever stop. Sadly, it is a combo of testosterone, inexperience, and desire for acceptance.

[EScanlon]

... It doesn't take a sports car to bring out the stupid in people.

It takes age and experience to reign it in....

Sadly, there are individuals who are "proud" of their particular brand of stupid and are willing to show it off. And this happens even after they're older and presumably more experienced.

Pushing the limits.... if you choose to do so, expect the limits to push back. Sometimes the limits exist simply because they do and not by choice. Those limits tend to push back the hardest.

...Everyone does stupid things behind the wheel from time to time. Those of us who survive the stupidity and learn from it / from others' stupidity go on to be more responsible drivers.

... Even still there will be those who ignore what they have learned. At least we could reduce the amount of carnage if we took a more proactive approach.

There is a reason survivors get asked how they did it... think of it as crib notes from the exams of life. Some of life's tests are simply Pass or Fail... and nature doesn't have a reset button.

But education isn't going to solve it, it isn't a situation that can be solved. As long as both the democratic fallacy (not the political definition, democratic as "everyone") and the individual's "dare-devilness" exist (and they're genetically handed down) you'll have folks trying to see if they can get "one toe over the line".

In their mind, their opinion IS correct even when presented with evidence to the contrary (democratic fallacy). This same "fallatious" thought is also known for most of the new inventions, processes, and other advances in human society. It IS the individuals who are willing to try something new and adventurous that have shown us the way to advance society.

The sad part is that accidents such as this MUST occur for someone to figure out HOW they occur and can then prevent it. Whether for individuals to learn how, or how to design something to prevent it.

On a last note, as long as driving a vehicle is seen as a "right" and therefore undeniable instead of a "privilege" (anyone notice the synonymity?) you can't exact minimum standards of behavior. Even when laws are enacted to define conformance you will find that the "punishment" is never truly applied.

How many times have we read about the schmuck who was involved in an accident while on his 3rd, 6th, or more DUI? How is it they're back behind the wheel? Because nobody really stops them. The car doesn't check DMV Records to see if you're licensed! Heck, even those with DUI Starter Inter-Locks have found ways to circumvent them... and been caught and STILL are finding their "right" to drive .... NOT rescinded. "Suspended" yes.... but they've also been caught with that on their record.

How do you stop them?

Do you put Internet ID verification technology into EVERY car, including our Z's to ensure that no driver with a suspended license or without one can operate that car? How do you enforce that? What about the ones that figure out how to circumvent the system? (Remember the "Democratic Fallacy"?)

All of these questions demand an accepting submission to the limitation of individual freedom imposed.

Which brings up the matter of having to limit the rights of people like these. Which seems ... appropriate.

What about MY rights?

Just doesn't seem to be an easy solution to be found.

FWIW

E

Edited October 25, 2008 by EScanlon

[FHPTOM]

After almost 15 years in law enforcement I can tell you first hand that traffic fatalities know no age boundaries. It always seems that teen-aged deaths are more highlighted in the news and in peoples own minds. Just like life, death continues on its very own crusade.

And after reading some post on this website and other Z related sites maturity and age definitely do not coincide. You can only hope that most people realize that after they do something stupid and come out of it unhurt that it is not worth the thrill that you get.

Tom

[Turbo7MN]

Doing stupid things on public roads is the reason I no longer drive an RX-7.

The car was modded pretty good... lots of suspension work and some nice tires made it insanely fun to drive, and since I used to live in the country, there was nothing more fun than taking the car out to tear up the twisty backroads where I lived. Well, I was out one day with a friend in the car actually, and was screwing around, and started taking a posted 20mph turn going about 70... I knew the car could normally take it, I've done it before. But something happened, I'm pretty sure with my front drivers side tire (it was hard to say what happened to the car before/after the accident) and the car began to understeer horribly. Flew into a very steep ditch and flipped the car. Me and my friend were okay, but the car was trashed pretty good. I still don't know why I walked away from it, the roof was smashed in about an inch from my head. I can complain all I want and blame it on tire failure, but when it comes down to it, I just should not have been taking that turn that fast, and especially not with someone else in the car.

I'm keeping the 7 around because I'm pretty sure once I have a good amount of money to throw at it it'll be fixable, but for now I've got the Z to keep me occupied through college. I've learned my lesson here. As far as racing... I've done it once in the middle of nowhere on a deserted road. I like to watch, but that's about it. The Z will be driven in a pretty sane manner once it's running. End of story.

[Oiluj]

How many people here got into some kind of accident with their first car?

I did. I looked over to change the radio while I was leaving High School and rearended the girl in front of me. My dad made me pay for the damage, so I learned a valuable lesson there, but I still drove it like I stole it (I just didn't change the radio station anymore!).

These days when I find myself being tailgated by a teen, I try to just get out of the way.

I think most of us did. But the type of accident you describe is at normal speeds and, frankly, often part of the learning process. I had a almost identical experience.

However, that's very different than someone choosing to drive recklessly at 1.5x to 3x the speed limit on public streets & highways. When I was young, I admit I did some stupid things as well, but never with other cars around. It was usually on an empty road late at night.

We did have the ability to go to local autocrosses and get some of it out of our systems. I was know as "wildman" in my Pinto 2000. That's because, "at that time", I thought the only way I could keep speed around the course was to drift the corners. I did consistently beat the local BMW 2002's though. *grin*