Cars are Just as Dangerous as Knifes & Guns

We all get Shocked when we hear that someone has been killed by a Gun or Knife, people protest and the media covers it extensively. Petitions flow like running water, and politicians stand up and speak about it on what seems like a daily basis. What about those killed by a dangerous driver? Well for a start they normally say 'Accident' which drives me round the bend. It almost let's the dangerous driver off the hook. The word Accident seems to be the famous 'oop's word' - He was talking on his mobile phone, ignoring the road, and going against everything spoke about on the TV Adverts and Common Scene but it was an 'Accident' he killed three people in the car in front. We just seem to accept the word and society seems to let it go. If it is a knife or a gun - It is far from an accident but I think we are forgetting that a car is just as dangerous, and people have a responsibility the day they sign up for a provisional license to drive safely, the day they get their License they have an even bigger responsibility.
These boy racers, these drug drivers, drunk drivers - they all seem to get a slap on the wrist, told they are naughty and sent home with a telling off. Even though they have a responsibility, even though they were in control of a rather large weapon and did not use it safely.
The government need to start looking at car's in the way the look at a licensed gun, you are able to use it but should you kill someone with it you get punished. Car's are weapons which you can go and buy whether second hand or from any car dealer, they are perfectly legal, as long as you pass your test. You apply for a gun, but if you use it and kill someone society is shocked, you kill someone with your car and it was an 'accident' - The family of the Father killed by the gun, people feel such sympathy for, which is of course for a good reason, The family of the Father killed by the car, they pretty much get told to move on - 'It was an accident. What if it was not an accident what if some Idiot tried to Bunny Hop over the car, while in his car, from a verge, Or What if the Person was on their mobile, or what if they fell asleep at the wheel because they drove after a twelve hour shift, that is not an Accident that is just the way people are they do not want the inconvenience of having to get a bus or a train if they have their car. People who drink the night before and wake up and think - Ach I've slept the drink off enough, I am sure I am fine to drive now, Can't be bothered phoning a Taxi. If that person is in a Car Crash people say it was an 'Accident'.
We need to start thinking that these Car Crashes are more than just accident's, they are people who do not respect the life's of others, they are people who do not want to be inconvenienced with giving a second thought. These people are just as bad as the ones who take a gun to someone else as they have the responsibility for their own actions, they have the responsibility to question their ability - IE I cannot TXT and drive, I Cannot Drink and Drive, I Cannot drive as I am far to tiered. They are at the end of the day operating a vehicle that should be considered a weapon if it is not operated

Driving with a Problem

Those of you who have read this blog will know my Mother's Killer, his lawyers put through a Plea of 'Epilepsy', his wife said 'He blacked out' and he himself said he had blackout's. The thing is He had 'blacked out' before, and crashed his car, prior to killing my mother so surely if he had indeed had black out's before, he should not have kept driving.
Those who know that something is wrong, should stop driving and take a trip down to their doctors surgery, I don't care if you drive for your job, or you need the car for your kid's, or you live in the country and cant get back and forth without your car - Order a damn taxi.
If you drive with a known problem, you are not only putting yourself at risk you are putting the life's of the kid's in the back of your car at risk, you are putting the life's of others at risk. All because you can't just take yourself to a doctor's surgery which takes all of ten minutes.
In my opinion those with epilepsy should not have a driving license, as sad as it may be, why endanger their life and the lives of others at the expense of convenience. Robert Forbes, his doctor's lied and said epilepsy only to say he did not after the criminal trial, but Robert Forbes after having previous imaginary blackouts that he said he had, even in this false little story they came up with - He should have been jailed for driving in the 'knowledge' he had blackouts and had not visited a doctor.

So please - If you know you are not well, if you have blackout's or feel tired all the time or whatever, and it will effect your driving ability. Just don't - visit a doctor.

S.C.I.D AGM

I've been invited to the S.C.I.D AGM, which takes place next month, which I am rather excited about, as I have never been to one and have also never met Margaret Dekker who I have spoken with on and off since 2005.

S.C.I.D, (Scotland's Campaign against Irresponsible Drivers), were there for me when I needed a ear. Margaret especially. When you find yourself lost in a sea of grief, shock, and totally lost after loosing someone in a car crash, and ontop of everything you have no idea how the system works, S.C.I.D are there. Not only are they there prior to a court case they are there during and after.

This is seven years on and I still find the advice that is given extremely helpful. This AGM invitation has me feeling extremely smiley and I am really looking forward to hearing what they have got to say. Glasgow bound in June!

My, Our, The: Story Pt One

On the Morning of the 27th Of February 2004, I was quite a Happy little Bunny, I was 19, pregnant with my first child. Today was the day I was getting the cot, we were not in the money and one of my co-workers had offered me a cot for £50 or there about. Having no car I had asked my mother to come help me pick it up, so I was chuffed. Little Bump Chloe would have another piece to add to her room.
First up - Getting work out the way. Shift was from 9am till 1.30. Not overly long but still, what a boring job it was. Getting the patient files, popping them in the rotating shelves in alphabetical order. Honestly, I was possibly the worst worker, I was forever getting them in the wrong order, but the people were lovely and my co-worker would forever be putting me right.
During work and break, I called up my mother telling her not to bother, the snow was heavy and the ice was thick. She agreed, and that was that. We would be getting the cot another day.
On arriving home later that day I figured the snow had melted a little, and it would be nice to see her so I grabbed my Really Red Phone, and I will never forget this moment it's still as though it was yesterday and I called her. She agreed to come through but with step-dad driving.
We all went for dinner at weather-spoons in Arbroath, I borrowed £20 off my mum to get the baby bouncer to, then back to mine, where my husband stayed with my mum and brother, while my step-dad and I went out to collect the cot. When we got back my mum asked me to build up the cot to let her see it, I wish I'd agreed but I said No as I was far to tired by this point and just wanted to sleep.
I gave her a hug and she left - but for some reason I called her back for an extra hug, these are the points that I remember most. That day seems so clear.
Next thing I knew I heard what I thought was the police banging at the door, I listened in as Michael (My partner at the time - now husband) answered but the voices were muffled.
Michael came upstairs and told me to get up quickly, there had been an accident and my family were now at the hospital. It never once occurred to me it would be anything serious. I went to get my bag and purse. My mum's friends said 'no - just forget that, we need to go, there has been a car crash' I remember reluctantly leaving my bag, feeling that I had time to get it as everyone knows A&E takes forever, the queues are terrible.
First off, we went in the car to go to my Mum's friends where (Let's call her Anne, and her husband Tim) Anne told me we had to call Ninewell's. When I called I was told my Step-Dad had been Checked in, and My brother had been Checked in. No Sign of My mum though. Still, I was not worried, far from it I remember being calm, thinking she had possibly not been hurt so no need to check in, I had images of her sitting worried in a room with my brother. She could handle it, she was a strong woman my mother.
Having now had called Ninewells we got on our way, in the car, things started racing though my mind, why was the hospital necessary? Would they just need a lift home? What If ....
It was around midnight when we got there, there did not seem to be anyone around. Rather eerie to be honest. As we got deeper into the hospital we eventually reached somewhere where a nurse stood, Tim went to talk to her and two minutes later a Doctor appeared. We were led into a room with a few chairs, to take a seat. 'I'm sorry but your Mum did not make it' the conversation seems to stop there, all I picked up on after that was my brother had not woke up and my step-dad was in a bad way .....
After this I went to see my brother, he was only 14 so he was on a child's ward, the nurse showed us where he was, I took one look and decided I could not go in any further - with a tear drop of blood trickling down from his eye, it made me leave. He was sleeping that was as much as I could take.
Next up step-dad, I hoped for a better outcome, he was awake though I could not choke up a word all he said was 'I know .. I knew she was hadn't made it' With a drain at his side his lungs and ribs had taken a beating.
As we walked out to the car park away from the hospital I did not see much, though my husband did, and it was not until a later date that we learned it was the monster who done it.
First point of call in all my wisdom at the time was to head to the care home where my mother had worked as a RMN. At that point in time all I could think on was letting them know, she had work the next day and having had worked there myself I knew that my mum would have wanted them to get organised, they would need staff the next day. When we got there no one answered the door, they would be busy, but I remembered the phone number somehow, and they answered. I let them know we were at the door, and as I told them all three broke down in tears .. I knew I should but they just did not come, I had more to do.
We went to my Mum's house next, where my Dad was called. He lived in Bristol so he should know, I remember saying First, I am sorry to call you at this hour but ....
The next day he was on his way, my Aunt was already there alongside my Papa. I just did not want to leave my brother's side, What in the world would I tell him when he woke? (Cont..)