A Cause for Celebration -Fewer Road Deaths
The results for 2010 are now in and drivers on Spanish roads can take pride in the fact that for another year the number of those whom we lost on our roads dropped from 1,897 in 2009 to 1,730 in 2010. This is a curious reason for celebrating because, make no mistake about it, 1,730 deaths on our roads resulted in 1,730 caskets, funerals, families with broken hearts. Driving is not supposed to confer a death sentence when you go out to the shopping centre, or on holiday.
I know for a fact that many of those deaths were caused needlessly by very stupid drivers because I see them pass me on their way looking for a tragedy to cause. We are learning, but not fast enough. People, both young and old still drink alcohol and get behind the wheel to go home. I know the type of discipline it takes to avoid doing that. It is something that I practice regularly, and now it comes easy to me. However, in the early stages it was the most difficult thing to do.
When everyone around you is drinking and having fun, to be the one who says no to alcohol is tough. Strangely, your host will try to press you to go ahead, have just one, instead of supporting your choice. Now, all my friends know what I’m like, I doubt that they would pour me a drink even if I asked for it. The choice starts with each and everyone of us.
Eventually the support is given because we all know that driving on these roads stone sober is a horrifying enough experience. I think that the next person who says that he did not intend to cause the death of another while driving carelessly, or excessively fast, or under the influence should be beaten with a whip one hundred times.
So, again congratulations to us drivers on Spanish roads! There were 167 fewer funerals to attend during 2010 and 6,947 fewer funerals (in one year) from the year when the highest loss occurred was
The results for 2010 are now in and drivers on Spanish roads can take pride in the fact that for another year the number of those whom we lost on our roads dropped from 1,897 in 2009 to 1,730 in 2010. This is a curious reason for celebrating because, make no mistake about it, 1,730 deaths on our roads resulted in 1,730 caskets, funerals, families with broken hearts. Driving is not supposed to confer a death sentence when you go out to the shopping centre, or on holiday.
I know for a fact that many of those deaths were caused needlessly by very stupid drivers because I see them pass me on their way looking for a tragedy to cause. We are learning, but not fast enough. People, both young and old still drink alcohol and get behind the wheel to go home. I know the type of discipline it takes to avoid doing that. It is something that I practice regularly, and now it comes easy to me. However, in the early stages it was the most difficult thing to do.
When everyone around you is drinking and having fun, to be the one who says no to alcohol is tough. Strangely, your host will try to press you to go ahead, have just one, instead of supporting your choice. Now, all my friends know what I’m like, I doubt that they would pour me a drink even if I asked for it. The choice starts with each and everyone of us.
Eventually the support is given because we all know that driving on these roads stone sober is a horrifying enough experience. I think that the next person who says that he did not intend to cause the death of another while driving carelessly, or excessively fast, or under the influence should be beaten with a whip one hundred times.
So, again congratulations to us drivers on Spanish roads! There were 167 fewer funerals to attend during 2010 and 6,947 fewer funerals (in one year) from the year when the highest loss occurred was
8,677.
These are the statistics that say it all!
Copyright © 2011 Eugene Carmichael
These are the statistics that say it all!
Copyright © 2011 Eugene Carmichael
