Buckle Up...

I don't have much time to write this, but I wanted to write this right away.

This morning I found out that a 17 year old local girl died yesterday in a car accident.  From what the reports said, the girl's father was driving his vehicle when he swerved right, then over-corrected, then rolled.  The girl was ejected from the vehicle and she died at the scene.  Reports also note the girl was not wearing a seat belt.

This is all too familiar in our community.

I have to admit something...I have admitted it before to people, but haven't yet on my blog.

Beth never wore her seatbelt.  She always said, "I'm too fat to wear my seatbelt."    She wasn't wearing one the night of her accident.

She only rode with me a few times, but each time she did I would say something to her about it....but, there isn't a part of me that feels like I pushed her enough to wear her seatbelt.  Since she has been gone, I have had an overwhelming sense of wanting to start a campaign in our community to promote the consistent use of seat belts.

I will not say that had Beth been wearing her seatbelt that she wouldn't have died...I know seat belts don't ALWAYS work...but, I still can't help but wonder, had she been wearing it, would she have lived.

What I will say, is that now, knowing our community has lost a child (yes, a 17 year old child) to another auto accident where seat belts weren't in use, I feel the need to start this campaign more than ever.

My heart goes out to the father who just lost his daughter...I will be praying for him and his entire family as they mourn this loss.  I will pray that he doesn't live in constant guilt and blame.  I will pray that he has comfort and that he knows his daughter is in the BEST hands she could possibly be in.

For all of those reading this, please please err on the side of caution...choose to protect your life as best as you can when you get in a car.

Just, Buckle up...if not for yourself, then for Beth and for this child and their families...and for your own family.