In September I hit a high school student on a bike with my car. He ran a stop sign while I was crossing an intersection. He wasn’t wearing a helmet and was listening to loud music on his headphones.
I was found to not be at fault. Shortly after the first responders showed up, the boy was taken to hospital. The officer on the scene called me from the hospital to tell me he was OK and had suffered a concussion. It was a relief for me and my wife to hear this news. It was an extremely traumatic experience. At the time we weren’t even sure if he would survive. I have since found out from a teacher at the boy’s school that he is doing OK, for which we are very grateful. He’s been on our minds a lot since then.
This isn’t a parents-make-your-kids-wear-helmets letter. This is an appeal to everyone who uses the roads. I urge everyone to be a little more cautious out there, particularly now when it’s dark so early and snow and ice will soon be on the roads. Nelson is a challenge to navigate, with narrow roads, parked cars, steep hills, confusing intersections, and increasing traffic, as well as more e-bikes.
It’s up to us to watch out for each other. Slow down. Leave a bit earlier for your appointment. Pay more attention. Driving faster might save you two minutes on a cross-town trip, but may cost you much more. Even if you’re doing everything right, things can still happen, like in my case. The fact that it wasn’t my fault would be of little consolation if that kid didn’t survive. Our safety and our lives are well worth exercising more caution out there.
Carlo Alcos
Nelson