Teenagers, Please Read!!!

[ShaneG_old]

Last Night, My friends 16 year old son was killed instantly when he lost control of his truck and hit a tree head on. He was speeding and not wearing a seatbelt. Please if you're a teen of driving age, please remember that you are not invincible. :-/
My children played with him and now I have to figure out how to explain this to them. I watched this kid grow up since he was 6 months old, and now feel as though a major chunk of life has been taken away. My deepest condolences and sympathies go out to his parents.
So DON"T SPEED!!!!!! AND ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEATBELT!!!!
At least do it for your loved ones.
Sorry to glum up the board but I had to let some of this out.

Edit: Just wanted to add that his best friend was with him, and was wearing a seatbelt. He suffered a broken collar bone. So I guess he was 'lucky' if you can call it that.

[Sir_Crashalot]

That's terrible news, Shane. My condolences.

Crash

[Fozzer]

...what can you say... ...!

Fortunately, following my years of experienced driving/biking advice and examples, all my lovely Children survived their Teen-age years, in their Cars, Motor-Bikes, and Trucks...
...and were able to provide me with Grandchildren, and Great-Grandchildren...

...and still Drive/Bike around safely.

The above Family are not so lucky... ...!

F.

[expat]

Tragic and unavoidable, but the saddest thing, the shock factor will make no difference to his friends in a while. Several weeks ago, this happened 100 yards from my house. All was quiet for a couple of weeks, but we are now back to pre-crash speeds

Matt

[WebbPA]

An old Ann Landers column.

The day I died was an ordinary school day. How I wish I had taken the bus. But I was too cool for the bus. I remember how I wheedled the car out of Mom. "Special favor," I pleaded. "All the kids drive."

When the 2:50 bell rang, I threw all my books in the locker. I was free until 8:40 tomorrow morning! I ran to the parking lot, excited at the thought of driving a car and being my own boss. Free!

It doesn't matter how the accident happened. I was goofing off -- going too fast. Taking crazy chances. But I was enjoying my freedom and having fun. The last thing I remember was passing an old lady who seemed to be going awfully slow. I heard the deafening crash and felt a terrible jolt. Glass and steel flew everywhere. My whole body seemed to be turning inside out. I heard myself scream.

Suddenly I awakened; it was very quiet. A police officer was standing over me. Then I saw a doctor. My body was mangled. I was saturated with blood. Pieces of jagged glass were sticking out all over. Strange that I couldn't feel anything.

Hey, don't pull that sheet over my head! I can't be dead. I'm only 17. I've got a date tonight. I'm supposed to grow up and have a wonderful life. I haven't lived yet. I can't be dead!

Later I was placed in a drawer. My folks had to identify me. Why did they have to see me like this? Why did I have to look at Mom's eyes when she faced the most terrible ordeal of her life? Dad suddenly looked like an old man. He told the man in charge, "Yes, he is my son."

The funeral was a weird experience. I saw all my relatives and friends walk toward the casket. They passed by, one by one, and looked at me with the saddest eyes I've ever seen. Some of my buddies ware crying. A few of the girls touched my hand and sobbed as they walked away.

Please -- somebody -- wake me up! Get me out of here! I can't bear to see my mom and dad so broken up. My grandparents are so racked with grief they can hardly walk. My brothers and sisters are like zombies. They move like robots. In a daze, everybody. No one can believe this. And I can't believe it, either.

Please don't bury me! I'm not dead! I have a lot of living to do! I want to laugh and run again. I want to sing and dance. Please don't put me in the ground. I promise if you give me one more chance, God, I'll be the most careful driver in the whole world. All I want is one more chance!

Please, God, I'm only 17!

[Apex]

Very sorry to hear such sad news, my condolences also.

We have a seat belt law here in Florida, but I wonder how effective it is.

I always buckle up, and I won't let anyone ride without having them buckle up, including back seat riders.  

I'm going to see my friend's 18 year old son tomorrow.  I'm going to ask him if he uses his selt belt.  Now I'm curious and concerned.

[a1]

That's why just today I refused to go in a car with a teenage driver to go to a solar boat building competition.


Sad news.  :'(

[ozzy72]

What a senseless waste of life

[commoner]

...mmm....So sad to hear this...at 16, was he legally driving that truck? Not that it is any less of a tragic waste of life. I ask because here in the UK the minimum age is 17; much of the rest of Europe it is 18. As with most things though the young seem to want to do what they see as "cool" before they are legally allowed and it too often ends in disaster......

Just yesterday.....three young people killed...very sad.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manc ... 731936.stm

...commoner

[Fozzer]

I love young Ladies to bits, as you know... ....

...but every time I spot a young Lady driving her car, after obviously just passing her Driving Test, I tend to think that she has forgotten all the she was ever taught about speeds, and speed limits, as she roars past me at illegal speeds in a speed restricted, built-up, area.

That cute little dial on the Dash Board marked "MPH" is just an attractive glass mirror used for for Lipstick Application, and Hair Arranging?

...young Male drivers are something else, altogether!... ... ...!

...sometimes I despair.. ...!

F....preserving his Driving Licence...and his life... 8-)...!

..one thing I notice about most my Motorcycle Chums, is their strict observance of indicated speed limits through countryside Villages, etc,.....
...we know it makes sense...even if the impatient, overtaking, Motorists don't!......!

[expat]

..one thing I notice about most my Motorcycle Chums, is their strict observance of indicated speed limits through countryside Villages, etc,.....
...we know it makes sense...even if the impatient, overtaking, Motorists don't!......!

I have to admit, that I probably drive a little faster than I should on open roads. I drive on some loverly country roads on the way to work. Very wide and open with great visibility....I know it is no excuse, but stay with me. Now, I overtake a few cars and get to the villages, I am right on the nail as far as the speed limit for the village is concerned. Then I have the car that I have overtaken tail gating me through said village because I am too slow. 20kph over the limit on the open road or 20kph over the limit through a village or built up area. Both are speeding, but both carry a very different risk.
On another note, new bikers, they are limited to the power of a bike until the age of 24 (in Europe), but you can pass your driving test and jump right into daddies Porsche if he is mad enough to let you or as more normal, a hot hatch. Why not an engine size limit of new car drivers too?

Matt

[Ivan]

..one thing I notice about most my Motorcycle Chums, is their strict observance of indicated speed limits through countryside Villages, etc,.....
...we know it makes sense...even if the impatient, overtaking, Motorists don't!......!

I have to admit, that I probably drive a little faster than I should on open roads. I drive on some loverly country roads on the way to work. Very wide and open with great visibility....I know it is no excuse, but stay with me. Now, I overtake a few cars and get to the villages, I am right on the nail as far as the speed limit for the village is concerned. Then I have the car that I have overtaken tail gating me through said village because I am too slow. 20kph over the limit on the open road or 20kph over the limit through a village or built up area. Both are speeding, but both carry a very different risk.
On another note, new bikers, they are limited to the power of a bike until the age of 24 (in Europe), but you can pass your driving test and jump right into daddies Porsche if he is mad enough to let you or as more normal, a hot hatch. Why not an engine size limit of new car drivers too?

Matt

Insurance price takes care of that... mostly. Hot hatch is so expensive that even experienced drivers will think twice before buying those.

And underpowered cars are dangerous too.... if someone makes an error you dont have any power left to get out of trouble. And the number of those overweight tin cans is growing every day, as every car maker is putting the lightest engine they can find in cars that are way to heavy... 1.0 litre engines with Airco units on them... dont get me started

FYI: i drive a car you'd probably put in the 'overpowered' or 'hot hatch' category... and i have my licesne for about 5 years

[Sir_Crashalot]

I used to drive/ride very fast. On a racetrack. On the open road, through villages or other build up areas, I'll stick to the speed limit. It's not the problem that you kill yourself, it's that small boy running behind his ball that rolled into the street.....

Crash

[ShaneG_old]

Thanks to all for the kind words. It does help, and means alot. We had the viewing today and the funeral will be tomorrow.  Rough stuff for his parents, as well as my family, but the most important lessons are sometimes learned in the hardest ways I suppose.

Just a quick note, I'm not against speed, I just firmly believe now that it has a proper place, and is best handled by those in the proper equipment with the proper training. I used to speed ALOT in my younger days, but since I had kids of my own, I just don't see the need anymore. I would rather just watch it on tv!

[Alonso]

That's very sad news...

I still don't drive regularly... but will next year..

There are many cases like that over here, too...