Editorial: Life to death in an instant
Friday, June 4, 2004 | 5:26 a.m.
WEEKEND EDITION
June 5 - 6, 2004
"In a city known for gambling, just crossing the street may be the riskiest wager of all," writes Sun reporter Molly Ball in a report dominating this section today. The articles by Ball and reporter Steve Kanigher respond to the increasing loss of life among pedestrians and bicyclists on our streets. Fifty pedestrians (including five children) and eight bicyclists were struck and killed last year in Clark County by cars or trucks. The death toll so far this year numbers five bicyclists and 18 pedestrians.
We see the deaths of these 81 pedestrians and bicyclists over the past 17 months -- an average of nearly five deaths a month -- as shocking. For years Southern Nevada, and the whole state, for that matter, has been generating statistics that show us to be among the most dangerous places in the country for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Some of the fault lies with our wide streets, making it easy for drivers to speed and time-consuming for pedestrians to cross. Some of the fault lies with police officers, whose reports show they are often too quick to absolve drivers and place all blame on the victims. Much of the fault lies with our laws, which are so weak that drivers who kill people while speeding or running red lights often walk away with nothing more than a traffic ticket. There is another reason, too -- drivers who do not think about the endless grief their aggressive or inattentive driving can cause.
Cathy Chavez, who lost her 15-year-old daughter in a November accident, was standing across the street from her at the moment of tragedy. One instant she saw her smiling daughter with stories of her school day to tell. And the next: Chavez says it's all a blur today, a blur that remains her final, aching memory of Ashlee Bicknell. There were sounds of a body being struck, skidding tires and honking horns. Cars, people, rescuers -- hysteria rendered them all a swirling blur.
No fatal accident is any less painful. Because so many people risk lives through aggressive, inattentive and law-breaking driving habits, we need tougher laws to get their attention. But new laws are not the whole answer. We ask all drivers to become more conscious of the power they have -- the power over life and death.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Wynns agree on ‘amicable’ split of assets in divorce
- Could the game be partly to blame for addiction?
- Sluggish starts plague Rebels in early games this season
- Report: LV home prices fall despite increases nationwide
- Funeral procession for slain officer includes Las Vegas Strip
- Boyd Gaming sues man over Internet domain name
- General Growth moving subsidiaries out of bankruptcy protection
- Bellagio sues company over alleged trademark infringement
- Justin Hawkins is a Rebel with many causes
- NASCAR running an uphill race with seasons that are too long
Blogs
The Kats Report
'DWTS' champ Donny Osmond still deft afoot in return to Flamingo (2 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Meeting of GOP governors draws challengers, not Gibbons (1 Comment)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Oscar loves forcing developers to sign labor peace agreements, Culinary loves the city's downtown plans and all is forgiven (1 Comment)
Now and Then
Underdog is open on a post pattern
Miech Again
Kruger contract altered in September (1 Comment)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny Osmond brings DWTS trophy to Las Vegas
High School Sports Scene
Prep Football: State Semifinals Picks (3 Comments)
Calendar »
- 25 Wed
- 26 Thu
- 27 Fri
- 28 Sat
- 29 Sun
-
Food drive at LAX
LAX Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Judge Jules at Godskitchen
Body English | 10:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Univision TV hosts at Blush
Blush Boutique Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Mischieve Wednesdays at T&T
Tacos and Tequila
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati













