Have you ever heard the term Gone in Sixty Seconds? No, I am not talking about the car racing film featuring Nicolas Cage and Angelia Jolie. I am talking about how quickly somebody dies in an automotive accident due to the mistake of a thoughtless driver.
You might be asking yourself “why did you decide to write about this?” The answer, my fellow Xangans, is simple. Twenty minutes ago I was almost hit by a driver that decided to run a red light while I was crossing the street. For the record, I have seen what reckless driving can do. I have seen the lives of eight young people taken in automotive accidents, many of which died because some dimwit decided to get behind the wheel of his car while intoxicated; be it under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both. To think that twenty minutes ago I could have been hit by a car, which was going at such a speed that I surely would have been dead, causes me great distress and angers me to the extent where I want to wrap my hands around that barbarian’s neck and strangle the life out of him. Being unable to do that I just have to settle for the absolute blessing of being alive.
Several hours ago I went into my bathroom and realized that I am all out of mouthwash. As per usual, I decided to walk several blocks to a drugstore and buy myself some more. Instead of getting in my car and driving there, I walked like I always do to places that are relatively near by. On my way back from the drug store I stopped at a cross light waiting for it to turn into that little yellow walking man. Here’s a little side note: I have never jay-walked in my life. Even if the road is entirely empty and there is no car in sight, I will wait patiently for the light to change and then I cross the street. Today, I made no exception to that rule. I waited for the light to change, looked both ways to ensure that all cars had stopped, and I stepped onto the street. I took my first couple of steps and only then did I notice this asshole speeding towards me. He was coming, literally, at me with no apparent intention of stopping as if he wanted to run me the hell down. I lurched my body back onto the curb with such vigor that I landed with my ass in a puddle as this asshole drove by. The people in the cars that had stopped stared at me in disbelief as I stood up and continued to cross the street.
Here’s something you should know: just because you have a license does not mean you have the right to think you are Evel Knievel and refuse to comply by the rules of the goddamn road! Those rules are there for a reason: to keep people from either dying or being mangled to the extent that they will spend the rest of their lives in a wheelchair because some asshole is in too big of a hurry to stop at a red light! Perhaps they have been implemented to avoid the murder of innocent pedestrians and people in other cars! The thing that bothers me the most is that this has happened TWICE this week. The first time I was behind the wheel when some woman decided to run the red light. Can I ask why such extreme levels of egotism are necessary on the road? Are you really willing to deal with the consequences of being responsible of taking or potentially destroying somebody else’s life? How do you think my mother would have felt if somebody had called her and said:
“Yes, Ma’am? I know you spoke to your daughter seven hours ago but I need you to come by the morgue and identify her. Why? Well, she’s been hit by a passing car and she is now dead.”
That is what many mother have heard and will continue to hear if people don’t grow the hell up and start taking responsibility for their actions!
I am fed up with careless driving. I am pissed the off that people think it is okay to do anything else during driving other than drive. I am sick of seeing so many innocent lives being taken by somebody who is too self-centered to stop and pause so that they may realize that:
Car + fast speed + no intention of stopping at red light + pedestrian
= death/life long injury
It’s not rocket science. Read it, write it, tattoo it on your forehead but REMEMBER IT! If you are too irresponsible to drive a car, then DON’T DRIVE A CAR!
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