Young and dead.

"Every serious injury affects so many people – not just themselves but also all the people around them and their families."

I was surprised and pleased to see the Advertiser this morning carry the headline...Young, dumb and dead. I was surprised because we don't normally talk that straight. Pleased because I think we need to. We have to cut all the crap and get to the bottom of this constant death of young men in cars. Covering up, pretending, avoiding, couching it in nice terms is not going to help us beat it. These young guys may not be dumb, but they are certainly young and most definitely dead and yes, just one death affects so many, so it is getting to the stage, because we are a small state, where we are all touched by this. We all know someone, the family, the brothers and sisters, the cousins. We are all touched by this loss now. So what is it about? I don't think it's just about hooning, bad driving skills and stupidity. I think there is more to this. There have always been young men who have street raced around Adelaide. Used to be out in the back blocks but we have no back blocks now. Some died...but not this many. Young men are often very good on their reaction times so why aren't they now? Young guys have always been speed demons so why is it so disastrous now? I feel profoundly sorry, as I have blogged before, for the police, paramedics, fire brigade personnel who are the first on the scene and whose daily lives are now constant trauma. I feel sorry for those who find the dead and dying as the cars race to destruction. The unsuspecting who just happen to be there and whose lives are shot to pieces with the pain and tragedy of it all and then the plain cold harsh realities. Then I feel so profoundly sad for the families and friends of those who lose these young men. Some might be able to say ...oh well, yes, he was a bit of a mad driver. He took too many risks. It won't replace that young life. So what makes these young men sacrifice themselves like this? What is it?