Had a close call myself on my bicycle at 16, a drunk who did a hit-and-run, leaving me concussed and with a broken collarbone. My brother, who was with me, remembered the license-plat number, so the fucker did time for that. Then I lost my best friend at 18 to a drunk driver, who got off lightly in court, but who treated it as a joke, and as a result was nearly beaten to death by one of my friend’s other friends. Three of my other high school friends also died in car or motorcycle crashes around the same time.
My cousin’s wife was killed on a motorcycle. She was in her early 20s and left behind two toddlers. A carload of teenagers slammed into her from behind while she was waiting for the light to change. The driver was distracted.
The son of one of my closest friends was driving home from work and was hit by a drunk driver. He went over a small cliff and had a severe TBI. His speech and mobility are permanently affected, though it’s remarkable how much of a recovery he was able to make.
I nearly lost one of my sons in a motorcycle crash when he was 17. In that case, he was the drunk.
I’m 70 and still drive. So far, my reflexes and vision are fine, but this will be the last car I own. I plan to sell it off by early next summer. I’m a strong bicyclist, live in a walkable place with (mainly) workable public transport, and can afford taxis. The reasons to quit far outnumber all the reasons why, as the man said.
First at 17, second at 25.
Had a close call myself on my bicycle at 16, a drunk who did a hit-and-run, leaving me concussed and with a broken collarbone. My brother, who was with me, remembered the license-plat number, so the fucker did time for that. Then I lost my best friend at 18 to a drunk driver, who got off lightly in court, but who treated it as a joke, and as a result was nearly beaten to death by one of my friend’s other friends. Three of my other high school friends also died in car or motorcycle crashes around the same time.
My cousin’s wife was killed on a motorcycle. She was in her early 20s and left behind two toddlers. A carload of teenagers slammed into her from behind while she was waiting for the light to change. The driver was distracted.
The son of one of my closest friends was driving home from work and was hit by a drunk driver. He went over a small cliff and had a severe TBI. His speech and mobility are permanently affected, though it’s remarkable how much of a recovery he was able to make.
I nearly lost one of my sons in a motorcycle crash when he was 17. In that case, he was the drunk.
I’m 70 and still drive. So far, my reflexes and vision are fine, but this will be the last car I own. I plan to sell it off by early next summer. I’m a strong bicyclist, live in a walkable place with (mainly) workable public transport, and can afford taxis. The reasons to quit far outnumber all the reasons why, as the man said.