Tag Archives: preventable crash deaths

Why STOP Installing Unsafe Guardrails But Neglect To Replace Those Already On Our Roadways?

In the course of working with DC Congressional staff on the underride issue, I was introduced to another safety advocate. Steve Eimers is a dad who lost his daughter, Hannah, due to another safety issue — unsafe guardrails.

You might want to educate yourself on this roadway danger. But Steve can tell his story much better than I:

On November 1, 2016, my daughter, Hannah Eimers was driving to school with a friend in Tennessee.

She never made it. At just 17, she was speared by a guardrail end component called “X-Lite,” produced by the Lindsay Corporation. Hannah was eviscerated, but her friend walked away unscathed. https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2021/10/13/x-lite-guardrail-ends-lack-oversight-led-highway-deaths/8437923002/

Read more about the guardrail problem:

In particular, I am concerned about the states which have not decided to replace XLite guardrails —

Following additional spearing deaths, at least 18 states have removed their X-Lites from the roadside. Others such as Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Texas have not. Tens of thousands of X-Lites remain in use across the country and they continue to be impacted and kill the innocent. https://medium.com/@sjeimers/how-one-companys-fraud-is-leading-to-death-on-america-s-highways-84dc79cd26fc

Why Would We STOP Installing Unsafe Guardrails But Neglect To Replace Those Already On Our Roadways?! And, by the way, who should pay for this — besides too many precious ones gone too soon?

America, are we doing all we can to save our loved ones? Before it’s too late. They never come back.

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AnnaLeah. . . still waters run deep.

Crash Deaths

America, are we doing all we can to save our loved ones? Before it’s too late. Because they never come back.

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Mary. . . always a character.

There’s no one someone won’t miss.

Towards Zero Crash Deaths

Convoluted Thankfulness, or The Aftermath of a Truck Crash Tragedy

Just yesterday, truck safety advocates scored a victory when the Senate voted 56 -31 in favor of an amendment which halted a mandate to allow Twin 33s (longer double trailer rigs) on the roads in all 50 states. (Keep in mind that the issue isn’t out of the woods yet.)

http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2015/11/10/Senatevotes56-31toopposetwin33s.aspx

Another advocate wrote a facebook post which commented on this and shared his mixed feelings:

“So we WON. Mind you this is a hollow victory in several ways. It doesn’t get our family members back or make them whole again nor does it make the roads any safer, it just keeps them from becoming less safe.

I’m feeling very weepy over this. It’s a win I guess but one we shouldn’t even have to fight.”

I have talked about this before. The bittersweet emotions that tend to follow what should be an upbeat moment or memory. Swallowing up the elation of progress or the happiness kindled by a recollection.

https://annaleahmary.com/2015/10/blindsided-by-unexpected-loss-the-many-facets-of-grief/

Life is forevermore colored by convoluted reactions. Tangled. Complicated. Tortuous.

The grief over loss never seems to resolve fully enough to result in lasting peace. How can it when the anger and frustration is continuously sparked by, not just the potentially-preventable circumstances which led to the loss in the first place (bad enough in itself) but, the ongoing apparent callousness which allows the senseless slaughter of human life to continue on our roadways–ad infinitum?

A vote based on a motivation to protect states’ rights to determine their own decision on Twin 33s rather than on a motivation to save lives. Really?! How would that make you feel in the wake of losing a loved one in a truck crash?

For me, it opens up the flood gates of grief and lets the loss well up all over again. Senseless. Incomprehensible. Distressing. Missing them dreadfully.

Lives cut short. For no good reason. AnnaLeah & Mary. How many more to come?

In these interviews, I expressed this anger and frustration. Why? Why hasn’t something been done–when it can be done?!

http://myfox8.com/2013/08/13/families-push-for-tractor-trailer-regulations/#ooid=o5aHB1ZDqzXWORlHytIGaG1HtJQiKMkV

http://www.wral.com/on-anniversary-of-daughters-deaths-mom-pushes-for-tougher-truck-safety-rules/13615053/

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