So tragic and yet so preventable

[Lorix2]

I just read that in Westford, MA - 3 kids were killed in a rollover accident. The SUV (Isuzu Rodeo) was equipped to seatbelt 5 passengers. The 3 young girls that were killed were riding in the cargo area in the back, which obviously has no restraints. The driver had 8 people total in the vehicle. 3 other children in the backseat including an infant were buckled and survived, the adults in the front were not buckled, but also survived.

The driver supposedly was doing 85 mph on I495 and then lost control and flipped over.

Why didn't they just take 2 vehicles since they could not all be secured safely in the car? Unfortunately, the driver will be forever asking herself that question - she's being charged with 3 counts of motorvehicle homicide.

It is a law that all children 12 and under should be in a seatbelt!!

Such a shame...

 

[emmy]

I thought the same thing as I watched this on the news. We can never be too safe with our children in the car!

 

[CathyCanada]

 

[Pin Wizard]

Why were they going 85 with kids in the car?

 

[ltldeb]

I read this last night before I went to bed and was mortified that someone would actually put their child in a car without a seatbelt. It's such a shame.

 

[4greatboys]

What a senseless tragedy. My kids must buckle up in the car and are not allowed to ride with anyone unless they are in a seatbelt. Even my oldest ds, soon to be 16, is required to wear his seatbelt.

 

[Dan Murphy]

It is so sad that people disregard seat belts, so easy, so effective.

 

[The Sweetness]

And *ofcourse* the ****** driver survives... that is SO unfair

 

[Laurajean1014]

This is tragic but it does remind me of something I heard:

Why do 50% of people not use safety belts in cars when they are at least 50% effective, yet, nearly 100% of people use safety belts in airplanes but are nearly 0% effective??????

 

[helenabear]

So very sad, indeed

 

[WillyJ]

Irresponsible, preventable, tragic, and sad. . .



Interesting point Laurajean; but I'd imagine at least a few people wouldn't if the stews didn't come around and make them- . . .

 

[Mishetta]

This post is very sad indeed.

While stopped at a traffic light, I can't tell you how many times I see toddlers just roaming the backseats of their parents cars either. Of course, the parents (or adults) are not buckled in either.

 

[Tiggeroo]

This is the problem with SUV's. One, you can not drive them like a car. They are not made for high speeds, and fast turns. And as to the roll-overs. 85% of the fatalities in the roll over accidents involve people not wearing seat belts.
I don't let my dh drive my Jeep Wrangler because he insists on driving it like his car, and has poor seatbelt habits.
I am nervouse because I am taking a group of boys to Cape Hatteras over Easter break and driving a 15 passenger van. I know how to drive them, but the rollover statistics are scary. So, I plan to leave early and drive slower. The boys already know they have to keep belted.

 

[Lorix2]

I myself drive a '97 Expedition and have to say that last year going down I95, a tractor trailor got a blow out in his tire and it went flying and cars were swerving all over including us and it held the road really well, from 65 mph to a hard stop, to a swerve to avoid cars behind us, etc...I'm glad it did so well - but I agree you cannot drive them like a car.

Just last night my DD's friend invited her to birthday party at a local place and is inviting 5 girls + herself. She said her mom is going to pick everyone up. Her mom drives a car with only 5 seatbelts!!?? I will be driving my DD there myself. Where does she expect to put the other 2 people? But unless she's borrowing another vehicle, it won't work out. So I decided last night I'd drive her myself - then I heard this story

 

[WDWLVR]

So sad and so preventable. That is something the driver will have to live with for the rest of their lives.

 

[ByTheSea]

tragic and senseless...