Garth Rattray | Auto crashes are not accidents

The graphic scenes of blood and gore are not on the evening news,

Showing mangled flesh is too sensitive in the television screener’s views.

But social media is awash with traffic crashes and fatalities too,

Almost every day spectators record and send them to me and you.

In fatal crashes the vehicles look nothing like what they used to be,

Wheels chopped off, de-roofed, torn apart, seats, nuts and bolts set free.

Some engines are gone, and sides shoved in, front and back approximate,

The frightening images tell us that, for the occupants it was too late.

Some crash victim’s bodies are horrendously contorted and gory in death,

It leads us to wonder what they were thinking just before their final breath.

Did they realise that they would not arrive wherever they planned to go?

If they were thinking, would things be different, obviously yes, it can’t be no.

There are two sets of road fatality victims, active and passive it’s true,

Some cause or contribute to the demise, to them risk taking is nothing new.

Others are in the wrong place and time, their fate they could not bend,

But some acted foolishly or impetuously and made many meet their end.

Some are not in a hurry until they get behind a handlebar or steering wheel,

Bereft of fear and caution, they surrender to the freedom that they feel.

But everything comes with a price, and often at too high a cost,

Rushing here and there mindlessly assures that lives will certainly be lost.

The three laws of physics cannot be disobeyed; this Sir Isaac Newton knew,

An object won’t change its motion unless a force acts on it, that’s very true.

An object’s force is mass times acceleration, that’s another law you see,

Objects apply forces to each other equally and oppositely, that’s number three.

You may ignore the laws of man, but nature is very unforgiving,

Ignoring those laws has serious consequences, like being dead or living.

You can’t bribe physics or have a friend who’ll do something on your behalf,

There’s no avoiding physics, it’ll hurt you and in your face it’ll laugh.

The traffic laws that we make are an attempt to keep all free from harm,

Obeying the lights, and signs, and road lines, will keep us safe and calm.

But even if you can’t remember all the rules and regulations in the law,

Good manners, good sense, and good timing will avoid a fatal flaw.

There are many for whom a vehicle is only a money-making machine,

Ignoring the rights of other drivers, to share the asphalt they’re not keen.

You’d better move, pull over, steer to the side, just get out their way,

A crash or confrontation is not worth it, they’re sure to spoil your day.

Read the road, look all around, learn to anticipate whatever they may do,

When they lose control and crash, keep away, make sure it’s not into you.

They’ll ignore red lights, and stop signs, and mount sidewalks if they can,

Speeding, stopping, swerving, crazily overtaking, safety isn’t in their plan.

The constabulary, we’re told, is at full complement, it’s well overdue,

The younglings are displayed here and there, in blue uniforms brand new.

But numbers alone won’t stem the tide of blood flowing on the blacktop,

Strategic placements are needed, if the road crashes we want to stop.

Checkpoints for documents and speeding, some rewards they will accrue,

But drivers rarely misbehave or crash when the police are in full view.

They will carry on in the most horrendous way, bullying all and sundry,

With cops in sight, they obey the rules, like Christians on a Sunday.

So spread them out, let them cruise among the would be shotta drivers,

And deal harshly with all who give or take, stop the bribes and the bribers.

Let the motorists guess where the cops will be next, and who’s watching,

They’ll have to behave, no more amnesties and no more ticket amassing.

Taxis and minibuses are always hustling, maximum money to accumulate,

Racing one another, and speeding blindly, it’s as if they’re always very late.

Putting the pedal to the metal, everyone’s life they constantly endanger,

Passengers enjoy the thrill of moving fast, lawlessness they engender.

And when I see the lifeless bodies, I think of the unnecessary losses,

When you pay to travel somewhere, you are always the drivers’ bosses.

Sitting quietly, unconcerned while your life is in the hands of a crazy fool,

Is just as crazy because, to them you are just a money-generating tool.

Most road deaths are not because of accidents, they are crashes for sure,

Whereas accidents are not avoidable, crashes are so much more.

Crashes have causes, they are not weird or a simple a quirk of fate,

They are avoidable, they can be controlled, and that’s not open to debate.

Zero tolerance campaigns are only measures cops sometimes undertake,

They’re short-lived and often resurrected, do better there’s much at stake.

The miscreants simply bide their time until the hype wears away,

Then it’s back to tints, protruding bodies, and the loud music that they play.

We have the laws, don’t put them on pause, keep them active all the time.

Our schemes will work, don’t ease up, let offenders pay for their crime.

We can save hundreds of lives; all we need is the will to do it.

This is a fight we can’t afford to lose, don’t give up, we mustn’t forfeit.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com