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Death on
the Highway….
Running Red Lights Is Rampant!
Red Lights Do Still Mean STOP!
by N. Ray Maxie
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Have
you noticed lately that some people think driving rules may have changed?
It seems to me, at least in some parts of Texas, that's true. Running
traffic lights seem to be epidemic. While I'm almost sure these traffic
rules haven't actually changed, if they have, we all need to be driving
by the same rules. Right? Why, just today, as I was stopping for an
unmistakable red light, a vehicle in the lane next to me whizzed past
not even attempting to stop. Something is seriously wrong with that.
Dead wrong! Last week as I'm just beginning to start off at a newly
changed green light, a driver quickly accelerates non-stop through
the intersection right in front of my eyes. He narrowly misses my
front bumper. Something is seriously wrong with that. Dead wrong!
My life and your life are endangered each time these stupid, careless
stunts occur. The blame seldom ever lies in the vehicle or the traffic
light. It lies directly upon the driver. It is known as driver error;
weather it is done intentional or unintentional.
Whoa! Wait! That's not the way it is suppose to be. In our rush, rush,
extremely hurried everyday life, many of us have become ever so time
sensitive. Some drivers have come to realize what a second or two
at the exact right time can mean, and unwisely so. They also know
that it takes a few seconds for other drivers to respond to a newly
changed green light. So they take a big, big gamble and shoot the
gap, often two or more vehicles in a row. A very careless and dangerous
thing to do.
Traffic signs and signals do not stop vehicles! Drivers stop vehicles.
Period! A yellow light hasn't just recently become to mean suddenly
accelerate, throwing caution to the wind. A red light doesn't mean
"pedal to the metal" so you can make it before the other drivers start
off. Just for a daily, ten-minute drive across my hometown, it is
not uncommon to see five or six of these violations occur. These,
seemingly minor infractions can be very serious and deadly to more
people than just yourself.
During all of my travel experience and road running across the state
of Texas, I have seen a multitude of car wrecks. The worst traffic
accident that I ever saw in my entire life was encountered on US Highway
59, about 45 miles north of Houston. The worst I ever saw, by far.
No exceptions. Period!
It
was a late afternoon in the summer of 1957. I was just a farm-fresh
high school grad out of northeast Texas, filled with wonder lust and
headed to Houston to seek employment. A seemingly minor infraction
of a traffic law had caused an extremely irreversible catastrophe
to occur. Two cars traveling in opposite directions on the (at that
time) two-lane roadway had collided in the southbound lane. I didn't
see the wreck occur, but I was obviously the first person to arrive
upon the scene. Both vehicles were all wheels up and lying on the
southbound (west side) road-shoulder. As I quickly ran up to the wreck
to see what had happened, the wheels were still turning and dust was
flying everywhere. Sounds and smells of gurgling fluids, like oil,
gasoline and steaming radiators, filled the air. There were no signs
of life within either vehicle. No movement at all and besides a radio
still playing, it was a horrible, horrible dead silence. There were
smells like I have seldom encountered since, but will never forget.
I soon learned, to my great shock, that five adults lay dead in those
vehicles. Even in those days before seat belts, all five of the fatalities
were still lying inside the vehicles. I quickly determined there was
nothing I could do to help any of them.
Then suddenly, above all the other highway noises, I, along with another
passerby, heard the faint sound of a baby crying. Now, that sign of
life was exciting and really got our attention. We frantically searched
for the baby, looking all around, inside the vehicles and all about
the area. We soon found the little baby only a few yards away, where
he had been thrown clear of the vehicles. He was lying on his back
in a couple of inches of water and in tall weeds along the highway
ditch. Screaming at the top of his lungs, it had been very difficult
to hear him above all the other noises. I quickly picked the baby
up from the water and weeds. Several of us bystanders tried to comfort
and console the precious little thing, the only sign of life from
this awful tragedy. Although, way too young to know it then, he was
now all alone in this big world.
Although not showing any significant signs of serious injury, he was
seriously traumatized. As he soon responded to our care and touch,
he settled down to only a whimper. Then, happily I could hear the
distant sound of an ambulance siren coming north up Highway 59. Quickly,
the emergency crew arrived and as soon as I could, I turned the infant
over to their care and capable hands. Several wreckers, highway patrolmen
and more ambulances began to arrive. Among all the rush and excitement,
I managed to ease away and went back to my car. Leaving and driving
around the wreckage, I continued my journey to Houston, where I later
began my search for employment.
The next morning in Houston, I picked up a copy of the Houston Chronicle,
with headlines that read, "Five Adults Die in Car Wreck. Baby Survives."
I was there and I'm glad I was. I hoped then and still hope today
that I helped out in some small way.
These terrible accidents don't have to happen and drivers often can't
realize their seriousness until they are involved in one. Please drive
sanely and safely, always. |
©
N. Ray Maxie
piddlinacres@consolidated.net
"Ramblin' Ray" December
1, 2005 |
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