On Thursday, January 15th, at around 2:20 p.m., a fatal motorcycle and vehicle crash occurred in Palisade at Highway 6 and Iowa Avenue. The individual riding the motorcycle, a 54 year old man, was pronounced deceased prior to life-saving efforts, and was not wearing a helmet, according to the Mesa County Coroner’s Office.
“The PPD extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this incident,” quotes the PPD in a press release statement.
As a Palisade student and a new driver, events like this that occur nearby to our school can be shocking and scary. Hearing time after time again of recent accidents and fatalities is worrisome. But more often than not, these accidents are preventable. Although this accident is still under investigation, the Palisade Community can use this tragic event to reflect upon road safety and the choices we make while driving.
Olivia Talley, a senior at Palisade, reflects upon a recent accident she was involved in. “I was driving straight and I had a green light, and someone ran a red left turn. I didn’t even see them because they were coming so fast, and they hit me.” Thankfully, Talley was not injured in the accident, but her car was totalled. “There’s lights for a reason,” Talley comments.
In order to keep our Bulldog family safe, here are a few preventative measures you can take while on the road.
According to the National Highway Traffic Security Administration (NHTSA), about 34 people a day die due to drunk drivers. Hundreds of thousands of people are dying and many more families and friends are being affected due to a cause that is preventable. Making the choice to drive drunk doesn’t just affect you, or your safety. It affects someone’s mom, brother, best friend, husband. It affects someone who shouldn’t have to suffer the consequences of a “fun night out”.
A commonly underrepresented issue is distracted driving, and it can be just as dangerous. NHTSA claims that taking your eyes off of the road for just five seconds at fifty-five miles per hour is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
“Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving,” warns NHTSA.
Speeding is a subject that many drivers may not take as seriously. Going fifteen miles over the limit isn’t bad as driving high, right? Sure, I can almost guarantee you that not everyone has drove drunk but everyone has sped before. However, this is still an issue that drivers aren’t taking as seriously. According to NHTSA, speeding can increase risk for loss of vehicle control, increase severity of accidents, and can even provide economic implications.
If you have a license or permit, my challenge for you today is to take a step back, and rethink the choices you make on the road. By making correct ones, you are keeping yourself safe, others safe, and our school community safe.
To access news reports and statistics mentioned in this article, please visit westernslopenow.com and nhtsa.gov .
