Cars don't kill people, people kill people

What caused the Walker/Rodas crash?

This is the question a lot of media are chasing right now. I suppose it's nice to check out the details, and maybe find that glimpse of hope that maybe this wasn't the driver's fault.

People are blaming the car. And this is the most absurd thing about the whole "investigation" I have seen.

Yes, the Porsche Carrera GT is an insanely fast automobile, but so are many of the cars on the road. Yes powerful and fast cars exist. Should they be on the road? I don’t see why not. I am sure your run-of-the-mill Chevrolet Aveo can get moving pretty fast too. Should those be banned?

This argument has to be likened to that funny old saying about guns. Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.

It takes a driver to press the throttle to make the car go, just as much as it takes a person to pull the trigger of a gun.

Blaming the car, and essentially calling it a speeding death trap, is absurd. It's what the general media likes to jump on, grasping at anything to sensationalize a fiery crash.

Roger Rodas, Ford Mustang Boss 302 S

Photo by: Art Fleischmann

But just as the best racer sometimes makes a mistake on the race track, the best driver on public roads is not immune to errors here and there. The problem is that circuits are built with safety and speed in mind...Los Angeles streets not so much.

The issue here is not the car, but the location and time chosen for letting the car stretch its legs. There are race tracks for that.

Ultimately, it was a touchy decision by a couple of car guys to take a few risks on public roads that ended up costing their lives.

It's a sad and tragic reminder to stay safe on the roads, even when your inner car fanatic is screaming at you to punch the throttle and feel the power. Knowing when and where to do so makes all the difference in the world.