Speeding Or Stupidity: What Really Causes Accidents?

Once again, the News and Observer has found a problem to elevate to the EVERYBODY PANIC stage: speeding. This seems to be a theme with N&O researcher Pat Stith, whose last contribution was focusing on the world-ending problem of overweight trucks. In spite of Stith’s reporting, the sun did come up the following day and life went merrily on.

Now just in case you missed the point, the N&O has tried a different tack. Over the weekend, a car full of not-so-smart people crashed into a house at 3:30 in the morning. Many were killed when they were thrown from the vehicle. The driver is believed to have been intoxicated. Its a tragedy, sure enough, and I’m not making light of the injuries and deaths, but it illustrates a point.

The headline for this story was quite different Sunday than it was today. Today’s City and State section reads “Speeding blamed as 3 die in wreck.” You’ll note that this fails to mention that:

  • Police suspect the driver was intoxicated.
  • Those killed were not wearing their seatbelts.

So, was speeding really to blame for this accident? Or was the fact that the driver may have consumed a brewery’s worth of alcohol before sliding behind the wheel?

Ok, so then was speeding the cause of death? Tangentially, perhaps. The deaths may have been prevented if the victims had been wearing seat belts. At least two of the victims were ejected from the car. Why, then, did speeding get highlighted, if not to prop up the N&O’s speeding special report?

I’ll offer my own theory as to what really led to the accident. It goes like this:

  1. Darwin’s theory of evolution – led to the driver drinking
  2. Intoxication – lead the driver to speed and drive poorly
  3. Speeding – lead the driver to swerve off the road
  4. Newton’s First Law of Motion – “a body in motion will remain in motion.” This kept the car moving once it left the road.
  5. Newton’s Third Law of Motion – “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” The car hit the tree and the tree crumpled it.
  6. Newton’s First Law of Motion, again – the car stopped but the victims kept moving

Speeding may have been involved, but it was not the cause of the accident. The driver being stupid was the cause of the accident.

I think speeding gets blamed more than it should for causing accidents. Speeding itself doesn’t cause accidents: being stupid does. If you’re driving faster than the speed at which you can safely handle a car (and others around you can handle you), you’re driving too fast and its only a matter of time before Darwin wins again.

It really has nothing to do with the speed. Safe driving all depends on the drivers and road conditions involved.

NASCAR drivers routinely drive 200 MPH. None of them die from speed. A race car driver’s cause of death is never given as “excessive speed.” Give those same drivers a few six-packs, though, turn them wloose on the track and guess what will happen. It won’t be speed that kills them – it will be them being stupid – drinking and driving.

Its crazy to hear in this nanny-state age we live in, but I think ultimately one day we may do away with speed limits on interstate highways, treating them much like the German autobahn. It would be policed the same way: if you drive faster than your abilities or conditions allow, you should be charged with reckless driving. I think that would put more personal responsibility on drivers, holding them accountable for their skills and judgement. Police would still patrol the highways but they would ticket based only on the situation. Drivers could even be ticketed for driving slower, if that driving presents a hazard to themselves or others. It all would depend on the situation.

I’d rather police get the bad drivers (or intoxicated ones) off the roads than going after the faster drivers who pay attention to what they and everyone else on the road are doing.

GarageBand

GarageBand is a tool of the devil. I don’t think I’ll ever sleep again now that I can make music so easily.

Why did it take me so long to see things from the Mac perspective?

Job Search Beginning

Boy, being out of work is hard work! I spent the day going crazy with LinkedIn. I think I connected with practically everyone alive. Already its paying off, though. I’ve had plenty of my friends and former associates offer to help find my next gig.

I also did the requisite resume uploading to various job sites. Next step is to enlist the recruiters to see what they might find.

I’ve been working at this all day now. Its funny, since I don’t really need to since we’re comfortably set for a month or two, but I’m motivated in a way that is unusual for me. I think I’m getting closer to figuring out what I want to do in life and impatient to get started doing it.

I had lunch with my dad today, too, which was fun. This followed lunch yesterday with my brother Jeff and friend Scott. Monday I have lunch with a friend and former coworker – a guy I’ve known for six years. It should be fun, too.

There are folks out there who depend on their job for their social contacts. Those people would be completely lost if they lost their jobs. I’m very fortunate to have so many friends in so many places. Y’all are just too much!

One Machine, No Waiting

If there’s one good thing about being laid off, at least now my office coffee cup will get the washing its needed for some time now.

More Post-Job Musings

I woke with my head full of questions about the abrupt canceling of my product, trying to make sense of it. Since none of us were given exit interviews, this will serve as my thoughts as to why I’m now unemployed.

It was, and still is, a great product. None of the problems cited during our dismissal meeting were insurmountable. Either they were simply given to us to make us feel better about losing our jobs, or they reflected a profound lack of understanding of the product’s abilities on the part of upper management. Both of these options are concerning.
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Resume Updated

My resume has been updated, complete with the requisite inflated claims and dubious achievements. Contact me if you’d like a copy in any bloated, proprietary formats.

(I haven’t had time update it with my oil industry position. I’m still waiting for my new friend to deposit the promised check into my bank account.)

Yesterday Ended On A High Note

There was no way I could spend yesterday feeling bad about being unemployed. Last night we had one of the most spectacular sunsets I’d seen in years. Also, our daughter was absolutely giddy about our first visit to her new kindergarten.

“This is the happiest day of my life!” she kept saying over and over. I couldn’t help but smile.

Advice To My Coworkers, Employed And Unemployed

Having been laid off before, I thought I’d share some advice for my recently-employed coworkers.

Don’t get too worked up over getting laid off. There is far more to life than a job. This weekend I watched the movie The Pursuit Of Happyness. Its about a guy who was lower than low. He had every right to rage against the system, to feel it was his fault, but instead he picked himself up and eventually succeeded. If this guy could go throuugh what he did to get a job, I’ve got no room to complain!

We’re fortunate to live in an area with bountiful job opportunities. We’re also fortunate to have skills that are much in demand. Look at this as an opportunity to branch out, or a chance to explore different areas. Figure out what you want to do instead of taking any old job to get you by.

Don’t point the finger at yourself. It’s nothing that you did or didn’t do: these things happen in business. It doesn’t mean the company doesn’t appreciate the work you’ve done, and it doesn’t mean the company won’t miss you when you’re gone. You have every reason to hold your head up high when you go after that next job. While its not a fun thing by any means, layoffs are common nowadays and no longer carry any stigma when you’re applying for new jobs.

For my still-employed coworkers, I offer this: I don’t know what fate awaits you, and neither do you! There are no guarantees in life so you have to look out for yourself. I always keep my resume updated, and I always keep an eye out for other opportunities. I have interviewed for interesting positions even though I had no intention of taking them. Its extremely valuable to be comfortable with interviews – and practice is what gets you there. Interviews also provide you with feedback about your value.

Its been said that the only real definition of job security is how fast you can find another job. Always keep a few options in your back pocket for days like today. Even though it may not have been your turn this time, you never know what the next time will bring.