My husband and I went down the road of peril again today. It’s steep and windy, has a very precipitous drop-off (much like a cliff), gets icy during the winter months – and has no guard rails.
After we had a terrifying experience going up the road a while back, we swore off of it but as the weather conditions improved, we began to use it again.
The bad weather’s back but we decided to venture down the Hill Of Death again today, thinking it would be well sanded. Instead, the road renewed it’s title.
I started to record on my phone as we approached because of our prior experiences.
Sure enough, we began to slide about halfway down and I had a heart attack. My husband remained remarkably calm.
I posted it to the local discussion/classifieds Facebook page calling for the installation of a guard rail and all hell broke loose. A cultural debate has arisen out of it.
Some locals swear you should just stay home if you don’t know how to drive in the snow or don’t move to the country. Others maintain the government has a duty to provide reasonably safe roadways to the public. I agree with the latter as others have had close calls too.
At the end of the day, no amount of local rhetoric about “staying home” or “bucking-up” is going to keep an accident or death from happening because the county won’t install a guard rail.
No amount of “get some chains, idiot” talk is going to bring the dead back to life.
On Facebook, one gentleman replied to my post “it’s Winter”.
That sums it up, I guess – it’s friggin’ Winter. That explains everything.
Here’s my response:
Winter the dis-qualifier
Why sand roads or put out fires
For that matter who needs seat belts
Hunker down wait till the sleet melts
Groceries gas are overrated
Don’t complain or you’ll be hated
It’s winter that makes perfect sense
Fits most every circumstance
If you’re not a seasoned expert
It’s on you deserve what you get
Having standards is for sissies
Center lines, stop lights are prissy
We don’t need no traffic laws
Cause we have hydraulic jaws
Summer fall just pick a season
Don’t need logic or good reason
It’s wintertime yup that explains it
No one should have to maintain it
I believe in common sense
Use your brain in self defense
But we don’t all drive the same
Let’s be clear on who’s to blame
It’s winter – lower expectations
Don’t deserve safe transportation
Its winter after all why bother
That guy who died he ain’t my father
Crash and burn on your own time
Just don’t do it on my dime
If you die don’t take me with you
Safety for the whole’s no issue
Dog eat dog philosophy
Winter means its you not me
Public safety how absurd
No one cares be rest assured
Wait that guardrail they left out
Car went over hit my house
Now who pays who is at fault
Wish they’d sanded put down salt
Suddenly its now my problem
County pay my bills all of ’em
Gubment should have done much more
Car parts on my kitchen floor
Group responsibility
Applies to you but not to me
Its winter that is my excuse
Backfired badly now I lose
Stories From Off The Grid. 