The Responsibility Involved with Taking the Wheel
By Darcy Campbell

During summer our roads become busy with pleasure-seeking motorists. As a funeral director, I have sadly seen what happens when the responsibility of driving becomes the game of driving.

This topic is especially important to me for several reasons. I come from a small town in Ontario that lost one of its own, a young professional hockey player, from injuries sustained after the sports car in which he was riding hit a wall. While this tragedy shocked the hockey world, it is unfortunately something that my small town has experienced all too many times.

In fact, to memorialize the increasing number of young motorists who have perished in our town, the community constructed a commemorative fountain in a downtown park. The memorial includes three, 10-foot granite monoliths bearing the inscribed names of the decedents.

As a funeral director, I have all too often witnessed the tragic effects of motor vehicle accidents. One of my biggest fears in the course of my professional duties is to recognize the license plate when I am approaching an accident scene.

Simply put, speed kills. Younger, less-experienced drivers often seem to overlook this point. I'm here to tell you that age is no excuse. We each have to take responsibility for our own actions and consider whose lives we may be affecting.

Take your time. Buckle up. Know where you are going. Obey posted traffic signs. Drive smart for conditions. Behave responsibly, not just for yourself, but also for your passengers.

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