Drunk Driving- people just don’t get it!

I was diving home from the grocery store. My tiny Mini Cooper was filled to the brim with food for the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend. The time of year is very special to me and the members of my family. October 7th is the anniversary of the first day we stayed at our cottage near Parry Sound. We are truly grateful for the exquisite privilege to have the property and enjoy sharing the place with friends and family whenever possible. There is one person however, will never be able to stay with us. My brother, who one year to the day earlier was killed in a tragic accident on a highway near Hamilton, loved the area and would have been thrilled to join us on what would have been his 30th year. Oct 7th not only identifies another year of cottage life but also another year without our little brother.

As I approached the 4-way stop sign only a few hundred yards before my driveway, I could see the flashing lights of emergency vehicles scattered around the intersection. I pulled off the road in front of my neighbors’ Auto Repair Shop where I was brought up to date on what happened. A vehicle had smashed into the back of a tree spade truck after speeding down the road and attempting to blow through the 4 way stop intersection. The small Ford SUV was destroyed on the passenger side and the spade truck suffered extensive damage to the driver’s rear wheels as well as the spade stabilizer equipment that was mounted on the rear of the truck.

 

Initial reports from the police on scene where that the driver was in serious condition at hospital and there was a chance that the scene could possible be considered the site of a fatal collision. Police and emergency crews did their best to divert traffic and investigate the crash. The area was later cleared of the damaged vehicles and debris before re-opening the intersection to traffic. As the event took place just before 3 pm, on Monday, the intersection closure caused many School Buses to be re-routed causing significant chaos for students, drivers and dispatch personnel. Parents had to called and notified that the busses would be late due to the closure. The diver of the spade truck appeared to not be injured in the accident. The owner of the truck must now make alternate arrangements for the work that they had scheduled until they can repair the vehicle of get a temporary replacement.

 

I would be interesting to know the cost of these accidents. Insurance companies and municipalities fund most of the expenses but where do their dollars come from? In the end, taxpayers, drivers and residents will foot the bill once again.

 

Today’s report in the Hamilton Spectator describes the incident and the fact that the 25 year old Oakville man that caused the accident has been charged with impaired driving.

 

Those of us that live in the area are thankful that the accident occurred before our children where being delivered home from school. Many are taking comfort in the fact that the driver hit a Spade truck instead of a small car. This idea brings me back to the realization that had I have been slightly faster with my errands and shopping, I could have been in the intersection when the incident occurred. I would have sustained impact to the driver’s side of my mini cooper. The “what if” questions could go on & on with possible scenarios or tragedies. We are grateful that the damage was limited and that fatalities were avoided.

 

Sadly, the results of the accident that my brother was involved in were not as positive. The good new was that my brother’s pick up truck impacted a transport and not a small car. My brother lost his life that night but did not cause harm to other motorists or the driver of the truck. My brother, 29 years old at the time, was travelling on the wrong side of the 403 in Hamilton when he exited at an on ramp hitting the transport head on. Later tests showed that he had an elevated blood/ alcohol level and impaired driving was considered a strong factor.

 

As many would agree, there is no place for impaired or irresponsible driving on our roads. Here in Fenwick, we are afraid to walk the dog down the street or let our kids ride their bikes to the library for fear that a distracted, drunk or aggressive driver will cause a tragedy. Some suggest that we put up bigger stop signs or reduce the speed limit. I disagree. If the driver is drunk, they are already ignoring the rules of the road and will disregard speed limits and signs regardless of what they say. The problem is partially that many think that rural roads are not patrolled therefore they can drive how they want and not get caught. Others just don’t care about road safety and are more interested in sending a text message or having an extra beer at lunch.

 

Until everyone takes poor driving seriously, we will continue to witness tragedy and trauma on our roads.