Last week, I had to make a trip to Portsmouth- it was the day after the first snowstorm of the year. Although the roads were clear, the temperature was only in the 20's and I suspected there could be slick spots on the road. Add in that I was traveling on Route 101- in my mind, a road that has too many accidents.
Not too far after crossing over Route 125, we came to a traffic jam. For as far as we could see, the cars and trucks were backed up. It could only be one thing- another accident. As we crawled along, then stopped, then inched forward a little, then stopped again, we wondered how an accident had happened this time on a clear day with clear roads.
After 20 minutes of the same stopping and starting, we reached the accident scene- it was horrific. The car involved appeared to have hit the guard rail, flipped over, then smashed into an abutment. It was crushed. The police were on the scene, but no ambulance or wrecker was in sight. Neither was the driver. Instead there was a white cloth that had been hung over the driver's window. I started crying knowing that this person's family was going to receive the worst news anyone could ever get.
That night, the news reports stated that the accident was probably caused by "excessive speed and cell phone use". The driver was killed. A young 26 year old woman.
Just a few weeks ago, my husband and I were talking and agreed that when the "hands-free" law first came into effect, we rarely saw anyone who appeared to be texting or using their cell phone. We had also noticed that, lately, it seemed to us that usage was back up to where it was before the new law. As we continued our trip to Portsmouth after seeing this horrible accident, we went through Stratham by way of Route 27. Not once, but twice, on this road we observed drivers using their cell phones.
If you know someone who feels invincible, that "it only happens to other people, not me", or who thinks they have complete control while driving and texting or making phone calls, please, please, please make them promise not to text or use their cell phone while driving. It breaks my heart that these accidents are still happening.
