Quote:
|
Originally Posted by biznatch
My gramps was a rally racer and also a car mechanic(on big competitions such as 24 Heures Du Mans and Formula 1 races). Needless to say, his reflexes, until age 65-70 were lightning fast (if you've seen a rally race from the inside of a cockpit, you know what I mean).
However, it didn't prevent him from getting in an accident while driving "normally" one day, partly because of bad weather conditions (and he was focused and cautious) when he was in his forties. He said he was lucky to not die that day; I think so, too, because most accidents depend on the unpredictable. I'm not gonna say chaos theory, but its the smallest things that often lead to horrible consequences.
|
Certainly not all accidents are avoidable. A branch falling from a tree is a good example of this. But, let me ask you something... Do you think your grandfather could have avoided his accident if he were driving at half the speed he was? What about a third? A quarter? In the vast majority of situations, it is the easiest way to make a trip more safe...
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by biznatch
I agree with Bill o rights: Nobody should assume anything from events that we're not sure about. For all we know, the girl could've put her hands on the mom's eyes... (My younger sister did that once to my dad as a game because she saw it in a stupid kid's movie and wasn't old enough to know better.) The point is, only God knows exactly what made the car go off road.
|
While I also agree with
Bill O'Rights (I don't really know what happened and I made too many assumptions) I will mention that, in your example, if the mother couldn't safely stop the vehicle the instant her daughter covered her eyes, then she was driving too fast!
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by biznatch
And experience may lessen the probability of an accident, but no matter what, it remains an <b>accident</b>.
Of course, feel sympathy, because it could happen to you (or anyone around you) tomorrow. But more importantly, develop awareness and learn from tragedies like this.
|
No one is contesting that it was an accident. The only issue was whether the accident could have been avoided. Accidents can be avoided, you know...
And rest assured, I will learn from this mother's mistake!