SAFETY: Let it guide you, too

Why are there so many ridiculous accidents and fatalities on the streets these days? Duh. Inattention, too much "gadgetry" in vehicles, or just pure stupidity?

There have been two bad wrecks in the past 10 years of my life. First, when a teen driver was too occupied searching in her CD collection to slow down in a construction zone (30 mph). I was struck at her 70-plus rate of speed and catapulted off the freeway.

Most recently, a young man riding a bicycle flew through a stop sign and into my car windshield. Thud! Thump! Pow! Hard hit to the core.

The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, and I later discovered he had no working brakes on his bicycle. I felt there had been a certain tragedy here. As it was, the young man is fine. His father picked him up at the scene, threw the bike in his truck and quickly departed before the police had arrived. This is considered a hit and run.

My father always taught measures of "safety first." From racing my motorcycles (always a helmet, gloves, etc.), to operating a lawn mower. The "guidance" seems so lost with today's youth. This is so sad - and tragic!

JESS GREENE

Hayden