Redmond woman agrees with Shaw family: Don't drive drowsy

DROWSY DRIVING

“It can happen to anyone...”

This quote from Bill Shaw from the drowsy driving article in the July 23 issue of the Redmond Reporter (story, editorial) is resonating with me because recently while our family was driving on I-5, a young man came barreling into us from behind and totalled our car.

When he got out, he told us that he had fallen asleep. It was almost too much for me to believe that a person could sleep while behind the wheel of a huge pick up truck going about 80-90 mph.

We were driving 65 mph, so I’m guessing that’s how fast he was going to have smashed up our car so badly.

Thankfully he woke up and braked upon impact. So, essentially, we came out without the serious injuries that Mora Shaw sustained. But still, it has been one headache after another dealing with insurance adjusters and the prospects of having to get a new car, not to mention my aching back and my daughter’s bruised face.

I just want to echo the Shaw’s statements that we need laws and education to prevent drowsy driving. And to all the people thinking of driving while sleep deprived: Don’t risk it. Take the bus or call a friend. If you wouldn’t drive drunk, don’t drive when you’re sleepy.

In the Shaw case and ours, it was a young person who didn’t know their limits: whether they stayed up too late socializing, while cramming for exams or trying to also hold down a demanding job.

It was a scary moment for us getting hit like that and it has been an unnerving time since.

I am totally on board with getting this message out to people about the dangers of drowsy driving.

Cathrin Wittkopf

Redmond

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