Bigger Things.

So on our ride back from Siem Reap yesterday as we approached our high school, our Tuk Tuk driver told us that there was an accident on Friday night near the school. What we got from him was that there were three people involved, and apparently one of the people involved lost an entire leg.

The newly paved road is a concern for many. It seems a reality that having such a nice smooth road is pretty much a license for anyone to drive entirely way too fast. ‘No need to slow down, there aren’t any bumps on this road.’ --(thinks the many drivers to themselves as they cruise along the smooth surface.)

Its funny, as I remember thinking to myself while I was riding my bike on the newly paved road how nice it felt and how nice it is to not to be so dusty and bumpy. Then the VERY second thought in my head was, I wonder when the first accident/death will be on this road because people drive too fast.'' Sure enough, it was about two weeks after completion. They don't even have the lines painted on it yet - but I see workers working on it out there today.

Let me reiterate how traffic rules are not enforced in this country. Pay no matter to the fact that the highway goes right through town. Pay no matter that during certain times of the day there are several thousand students riding their bicycles on the shoulders sharing the same road that these huge diesel delivery trucks are speeding on.

Today however, Will talked with one of the teachers at the school, and apparently this accident involved three 12th grade students. They say that alcohol was involved and the students were speeding on a moto, swerving all over the road. Either they hit a car or the car hit them. I don’t have details and as always rumors are rumors. But all three of the students died.

When you hear of things like that, it kind of just stops you in your tracks. I mean, I don’t have the details on it and I don’t know what is true; but which one of my classes will I walk into tomorrow and have a few students missing? Maybe they weren’t my students. It’s a large school and everything and it’s possible they’re not in my class; but regardless, things like that just make you stop and think. It’s a shame. One can only hope that this accident will be a message for everyone to remember to think about their actions and how they drive, to be smart and think ahead when they drink and in general consider slowing down and being alert on the road so we can all make the highway a safer place to travel on. Gosh, I sound so cliché, but all of it is true.