[pieceofthepuzzle]

This was a horrible tragedy, and I can't imagine going on with my life if my child was one of the victims. We obviously should all be praying for those parents.

However, knee-jerk reactions to tragedy, and worse, using tragedy to score political points, is not the right course.

Should we be having a national discussion about banning or restricting automobiles? The following statistics are from an article published this year:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/may/02/traffic-accidents-biggest-killer-young-people

Excerpts:

“Roads are now the biggest killer of young people over the age of 10, with road traffic deaths constituting a global health epidemic that has reached crisis proportions, according to a report published on Wednesday.”

“Children and young people are the worst affected, with road traffic injuries now the single biggest source of fatality among 10- to 24-year-olds worldwide. In 2004, the last year for which comprehensive data is available, road traffic injuries killed more 5- to 14-year-olds than malaria, diarrhoea and HIV and Aids.”

[redgolum]

With the rise of cars that drive themselves, you will see laws banning people driving sooner or later.