Driving (ir)Responsibly

Okay.

Responsibility …. Where has it gone?

Why is it that we as a society seem to go out of our way to divert responsibility for things not only away from ourselves … but away from everyone? Why is it that we seem to look anywhere and everywhere except the individual in question?

Now you’re probably going, “Klik … what in the devil are you talking about?”

Specifically, I’m talking about our tendency, as a society, to excuse people’s behavior and choices and take away their responsibility for their actions … particularly in criminal cases.

I heard a report today about an accident, an adult driver of a car hit and killed a young student getting off a school bus. Other students were involved, but I did not hear if they were injured or simply witnessed the accident. The driver of the vehicle (I believe it was reported as an SUV) was a woman who was prone to seizures and, as a result, had her driver’s license suspended. The woman was not legally licensed to drive a vehicle and knew it and knew that she was prone to seizures … she CHOSE to get behind the wheel of her vehicle and drive it anyway … she had a seizure behind the wheel and as a result a young student is dead.

A witness at the scene was quoted as saying “I’m sure she must have had a good reason” … in other words “I’m sure it’s not really her fault …”

No … I’m sorry … it’s most certainly her fault. It is the result of the choice that she made to drive … she made the choice and someone is now dead as a result.

Or the next time we hear about a drunk driver killing someone we’re supposed to say “well, I’m sure they must have had a good reason ….” Hell, at least they can make the argument that their judgment was impaired ….

And for the record I believe in stronger punishments for drunk drivers, particularly when accidents or death occur as a result of their choice to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

If she was legally licensed to drive and had a tire blow out that caused the child’s death, then it’s a tragic accident … but that’s not what happened … She knew she wasn’t supposed to be driving … and knew WHY she wasn’t supposed to be driving … she chose to ignore both of those facts AND the danger to herself and others that putting herself in such a position would create … just like a drunk who gets behind the wheel … worse in that her mind wasn’t clouded by the influence of alcohol.

As a society we need to stop looking for excuses for people … and we need to stop accepting them. She made a conscious choice to drive that car illegally and someone is dead as a result of that choice. She needs to be held fully responsible for the result of that choice.