It's no accident when drivers kill. Open Discussion Discuss It's no accident when drivers kill. in the Off Topic forums; SOURCE Chuck Strawser: It's no accident when drivers kill By Chuck Strawser Friday, June 30, is the one-year anniversary of the crash that killed local bicycle advocate Jessica Bullen. Stephen ...

[fordfasterr]

SOURCE

Chuck Strawser: It's no accident when drivers kill
By Chuck Strawser

Friday, June 30, is the one-year anniversary of the crash that killed local bicycle advocate Jessica Bullen.

Stephen Eisenberg, the lawyer defending the driver in the crash that killed Jess while she was bicycling on Hope Road, was recently quoted saying, "It's called an accident the last time I checked." Apparently Mr. Eisenberg hasn't checked in a long while.

The Wisconsin DOT hasn't called car crashes accidents since the 1989 Wisconsin Traffic Accident Facts report, which included this statement on page one: "Traffic crashes are not accidents, but avoidable events caused by a single variable or chain of variables. We are dedicated to reducing traffic injuries and fatalities by addressing the factors that cause them ... Future editions will ... be called Crash Facts."

Federal Highway Administration research cites driver error as the principal cause in most automobile crashes. "Driver error" encompasses things like running stop signs and red lights, driving too fast for conditions, and not paying attention to the road, among other things. A crash resulting from those behaviors is very predictable, and, more importantly, preventable.

We should hold careless drivers accountable, just as we impose consequences for the negligence of those who wield other deadly weapons, especially when that carelessness results in the injury or death of others. A car is a deadly weapon: Pedestrians hit by cars traveling 20 mph have a 5 percent likelihood of being killed. At 30 mph, a pedestrian fatality is a 55 percent probability; pedestrians hit by cars driven at 40 mph have an 85 percent chance to end up dead.

For motorists to safely share the road with bicyclists specifically, we all need to recognize: 1) bicycles are legal vehicles; 2) bicyclists have all the same rights and responsibilities as operators of any other vehicle; 3) motorists are required to give three feet of clearance when passing any vehicle, including bicycles; and 4) motorists need to yield to bicyclists just as they would yield to any other vehicle.

Bicycle/car crashes are often caused because a left-turning motorist fails to yield to an oncoming bicyclist, or because a motorist pulls out of a driveway or side street in front of a cyclist. Simply treating bicyclists just like drivers of other vehicles would make our streets a lot safer for everyone.

Everyone who exercises the privilege (it is not a right) to drive a car ought to be expected to operate the vehicle as if others' lives depend upon it. At the very least, there ought to be consequences for homicide by the negligent operation of a vehicle. That's the charge against Tracy Sorum, the man on trial in the death of Jessica Bullen, and it's appropriate, because the crash that killed Jess was no accident.

More than seven years ago, a 12-year-old Louis Payne shot and killed a friend, Shaina Davenport. Payne said the shooting was unintentional. Shaina's mother has stated that she believes Payne did not mean to shoot Shaina. Yet Payne is still behind bars, despite being barely old enough to qualify as an adult. The DA who prosecuted Payne said, "Kids do stupid things. But we do have to set standards."

By all means, we should set standards. It's time for our standards to include the expectation that anyone who exercises the privilege (it is not a right) to drive a vehicle will drive as if other people's lives depend upon it.

Crashes are not accidents, and no one else has to die because of a careless driver.

Chuck Strawser works for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, which is headquartered in Madison.


Published: June 29, 2006

[ZZR]

100%agree with that

[knowntofew]

Yuppers I like that..... Now fry the driver and WHAT ABOUT MY MOTORCYCLE RIGHTS? People kill bikers (motorcyclists) all the time and get little more than slaps on the wrist WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[blondegixx]

[Tusk]

Pffft bicycles , They should stay on the sidewalk

[fordfasterr]

One of the biggest arguments that drivers have against bicycles is that bicycles generally travel slower than normal traffic.

This is mostly true. In most cases, bicycles will travel below the posted speed limit however,

Just because a bicycle is a slow vehicle does not mean that it does not belong on the road (not to mention that it is legal to ride a bicycle on the road in all 50 states), there are dozens of slow vehicles on the road at any time.

Drivers must share the road with slower traffic and take all necessary precautions to cohabitate with them.

What other types of slow traffic are on the road at any given time?

1. School busses.
2. mail man.
3. garbage man
4. public transportation busses
5. horses ( rare but not unheard of ).
6. road cleaning machines.
7. etc...

What do you do when encountering one of these slow moving vehicles?

Do you think that you have more right to share the roadway than these vehicles? Do you attempt to push them off of the road, or do you think they should be on the sidewalk instead?

LOL

[Jiggly]

we were riding our horses down the road once and got fogged by the mosquito guy that sucked!

worse is when people honk and spook youtr horse/.

[Katana-750_Lady]

Accidents don't kill people .. people kill people.

Just look at Geeman, if the guy driving the van hadn't been an idiot and pulled over like he was supposed to, and maintained his truck (he knew the emergency lights weren't working) I wouldn't be making this post and my son would have his father.

[Dreadjockey]

Originally Posted by Katana-750_Lady

Accidents don't kill people .. people kill people.

Just look at Geeman, if the guy driving the van hadn't been an idiot and pulled over like he was supposed to, and maintained his truck (he knew the emergency lights weren't working) I wouldn't be making this post and my son would have his father.