Editor:

On Feb. 21, my cousin had officially been dead longer than she lived.

Why do I share such a morbid anniversary with you? What good can come from this anniversary? It is my hope that through her untimely death, and her story, lives can be saved.

On Monday, Nov.19, 1990, my cousin was driving home for Thanksgiving. As she neared our hometown, she slowed to turn into Little River State Park; this was a fatal mistake. Unbeknownst to her, a large truck was barreling down the blind curve, attempting to pass her car. Unaware that she was turning left across this two-lane highway, the truck crashed into the driver door.

The impact was so great, the car caved in. Fortunately her boyfriend escaped with a broken leg and many stitches. My cousin was not so lucky. The internal injuries, combined with the massive blood loss, proved too much for her small body to handle; within six hours of the incident she was pronounced dead.

My life shattered. We were three weeks apart in age, and now I had nothing but memories. I wanted to scream, cry, beat something — but I was empty, void of emotion. As if in a nightmare, I expected to wake at any moment and she would still be there. Eighteen years later, I am finally finding solace for her untimely death.

So often we want to refer to collisions as “accidents,” but why? Accidents indicate they could have been avoided, and if it could be avoided, then why call it an accident. Speed and an impatient driver contributed to my cousin’s dying. How sad that she could still be alive today if someone hadn’t been in a hurry to get some place else.

Never will my cousin know the love of walking down the aisle, the pain of childbirth or the joy of a first baby. No, it was taken from her, without consent and without warning. Our families were shattered. A piece of the puzzle was missing, never to be found again.

Speed limits are not suggestions; stop signs don’t mean “slow down;” and traffic violations are illegal. As a parent, God gave me three beautiful children whom I have vowed to love and protect. I am teaching them to drive safely, defensively, correctly. To obey the laws but to also stand up for what you believe to be wrong. If you don’t like the speed limit, petition to change it. It is not your right, duty or obligation to exceed it.

No, I will not pull over because someone behind me chooses to disobey the law.

No, I will not say it is OK to make a minor traffic violation when the outcome can be deadly.

No, I will not accept your ill-conceived rhetoric on why speeding is OK.

Slow-down, obey the law and set the example. Don’t wait for the law to stop you, be a grown-up and stop yourself.

Daphne resident