Letter: No excuses for unsafe driving

Thursday, March 25, 2004 | 9:25 a.m.

As I write this letter another child is fighting for his life at University Medical Center as the result of being hit while riding his bicycle in a crosswalk. A young woman was reaching for her ringing cell phone, wasn't paying attention that two other cars were stopped at the crosswalk, and ran over this poor child.

However, as usual, she probably will not be held accountable. Are we ever going to hold anyone accountable for their driving habits such as running lights, speeding, talking on the phone, etc.?

Maybe if we gave these people huge fines and a prison sentence, they might be inclined to pay attention and drive more safely. We leave our children unattended in hot cars, run over landscapers, etc. The list is too long, but no charges are filed.

I also see that an officer stated that if the boy was riding in the crosswalk, that might be a mitigating circumstance for the driver. Do we always make excuses for all of our actions? Driving is a privilege, not a right.

KATHERINE WILLIAMS

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