Drive Carefully,....Please

A fellow deaf-blind person from New Jersey was hit by an inattentive driver last week. He died on impact. My condolences go out to his family. He was 42. He was just trying to cross a busy street (across from his home) to patronize a pizza place on his birthday. I did not know him well. He was on one of the mailing lists for the deaf-blind. We had something in common.

Many times have I heard complaints that some drivers do not pay attention. They are just in a hurry to get to where they want to go. They seem to look out for other vehicles more than they watch for pedestrians. This takes me back to the "Me First!" post I made.

I have had reports from others that they would be ready to cross the street with their canes and then a driver zooms by right in front of them, sometimes breaking the cane. That's how close a car is. Sometimes canes have to be replaced two or three times a year, because of a near miss with a car.

How many senseless accidents does it take? Your child or relative or co-worker could be the next victim.

We need stronger advocacy on this. Many times I see drivers trying to beat that yellow light before it turns red. Don't they stop to think that maybe someone is going to cross the street at any given moment? (Do you remember "Starman'? He said that the yellow light meant "go very fast.") And personally, I think that the "right turn on red" is dangerous. Drivers look for a chance to turn if the coast is clear of another car, not a pedestrian.

I don't even know if it would do any good. There will always be accidents. Someone gets killed. Then the world moves on, never learning, and more people get killed.

This is so senseless. Many accidents can be avoided.

People say that they don't want to repeat history. But they do anyway. I guess they all just have to learn the hard way.

Maybe stricter laws need to be passed. More consequences. It seems like some just get a slap on the wrist.

It reinforces my decision to quit driving. It's too dangerous. I didn't want to take any more chances.

How about you? Drive safely. Watch for pedestrians.