The tragic death of Bianca Leblanc, struck down by a speeding car while playing on her lawn, has caused many to debate the issue of reckless driving. Indeed, a precious three year old life was painfully removed by a senseless act of irresponsibility.
I also feel compelled to offer my thoughts.
The horror of this utterly inexplicable occurrence is made all the more poignant given it was Halloween. Bianca was probably going to go door to door in her costume of her choice (or parents) and reap the rewards with candy. I know because we were preparing for the same thing with our daughter.
It was not to be on this day. I could barely comprehend it myself.
The story is made the more sad considering that the teenager - by all accounts from a good family - has altered the course of his own life. While speeding and racing in a residential street without a license he lost control of his car and well...
The legal punishment is likely to be severe.
The social response has been rather top-heavy. The usual calls for government to step in to do something or that a greater police presence is needed in residential areas as opposed to handing out speeding tickets on the highways. Fair enough.
However, this is only effective as long as it compliments and cooperates with our own responsibilities as parents. Passing off the baton to the government while we abdicate our job is not going to solve anything.
I have argued strenuously on this blog that it's time for Canadians to look introspectively as opposed to clamouring after the government to deal with a social problem.
I believe this is one example.
My concern is that from what I have seen from adults on the roads, kids are not getting proper instructions from their parents. Learning to drive at a driving school is one thing but it is up to parents to continue the education; to guide their childrend. If they see their kids making a wrong move they MUST step in and right it. If they know in their hearts their kids are not mature enough to be behind the wheel of a dangerous machine then be honest about it and take a bold decision.
Too often I am cut off by men and women on the phones multi-tasking as they operate a vehicle. Many times, sadly, there are kids in the car. What do you think the kids are observing? That it's alright to drive inattentively.
On a daily occurrence I see people cheating accidents - if not death. Driving without full concentration leads to impolite and erratic driving. This frustrates and angers the person in the car next to you. Who knows what the chain of events that follows are as the universal principle kicks in.
Self-absorbed drivers in a rush to get to a destination need to step back and consider the possible implications of their actions. Is how we drive a metaphor for how we are as a society?
Perhaps signs and pictures of Bianca should cover across this fair city. Bianca's Law.
Many suggestions have been put forward. Increasing the driving age from 16 to 18 seems to make the most sense. Very few 16 year-olds have the maturity to drive.
Whatever, this is just mildly superficial to what we all should be doing. We are collectively responsible and this is the true definition of a social democracy: where the people take control without the government's signal and do what's what right. It should not be the other way around.
This won't bring back Bianca. But perhaps in her death we have reached a tipping point whereby we tackle this issue once and for all.
While ignoring the news, as if keeping away from it would somehow make it go away, I couldn't even bring myself to post a picture of her here.
RIP, Bianca. Maybe in your passing an important message has been sent.
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