| Author | Message | ||
     Kootenay |
At least, we're not according to this guy, as he writes in this letter to the editor of the South Bend Tribune: Protect yourself or pay the consequences Common sense and personal responsibility are declining these days. In their place, blaming others for your misfortunes is pervasive. The Tribune is promoting this concept with headlines like "Son died because of phone" (Dec. 26). A van driver illegally pulled out in front of a motorcyclist. The van driver was talking on a cell phone at the time. The cyclist was killed in the accident. There is no question the van driver caused the accident, but the motorcycle rider is largely responsible for the severity of his injuries and subsequent death. Common sense should tell people that if they are going to share the streets with other vehicles weighing several thousand pounds, then they should have some sheet metal around them. An error by another driver is a constant threat whenever and whatever you drive. A smart person would protect himself with a similarly sized vehicle. People can't depend on the law to protect them; they must do it themselves or face the consequences. Cell phones or not, accidents will still happen. Unfortunately, there are no fender benders with motorcycles. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the victim's family over this tragedy, but please don't put all the blame for his death on the other driver or a cell phone. Unfortunately, I see this scenario all too often in my profession. Dr. William Rozzi Orthopedic and trauma surgeon South Bend source: South Bend Tribune - On line edition, Jan 18, 2006 | ||
| Skyguy |
Dr. William Rozzi, This is a virtual kick in the Nutz. WHAM! | ||
| Nutsosane |
My wife is a doctor and sees an accident caused by a deer every shift. She however is not a proponent of slaughtering the entire deer population or refusing to operate a motor vehicle because of the deer population. Mr. Rozzi needs to pull his stethoscope out of his azz. If it were my family member who fell victim in this accident I would surely like to personally hear the good doctors comments. But he may want to have the good sense to wrap himself in sheet metal first!NUTS  | ||
| Paulson |
Yeah, if you take away the driver with the cell phone, he wouldn't have any business.  | ||
| Cataract2 |
How are we responsible when said ••••••• pulls out in front of us? Someone smack him upside the head. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Sounds like Dr Rozzi needs new glasses! Oh, & don't lob your bike in his neck of the woods, he might just leave you on the gurney & say "it's his own fault"! | ||
| Interex2050 |
Grr Driving should be a dedicated activity! No eating, no chatting on the celly, no applying make-up, no shaving, no reading, nothing! (well maybe aside from music, assuming full attention is still focused on the road) They complain that there is traffic... psh! Well maybe if more people actually payed attention to the road, they would actually make intelligent and timely choices on the road. Reducing the traffic! Just imagine... no more waiting at a light because the person in front of you "didn't see" the green light. BAH! | ||
| Interex2050 |
Just like a couple of months ago my mother was rear-ended at an intersection. The stupid [insert obscene word here] said "oh I didn't see you?!", and surprise surprise!! she was talking on her celly! ARGH! | ||
| Kuuud |
The good doctor needs to perform a lobotomy on himself. Using his twisted logic, there should be no pedestrians or bicyclists either. | ||
| Skyguy |
I can not believe he would write such a thing right after the accident. The family really needs to see that, NOT! What a jerk. I have been trying to find an office number or email for this guy. Gonna start a horde of negative press his way if I can figure out where he is. | ||
| Glitch |
I think everyone should have to ride motorcycles before getting an automobile. | ||
| Doncasto |
. . .and when the 18 wheeler pulls out in front of Dr Rozzi, the operator talking on his CB/cell phone/working with his routing computer/watching porn on his DVD player, Dr. Rozzi will be at fault for not also driving an 18 wheeler - if his logic has any traction. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"Protect yourself or pay the consequences " I wonder if he carries a gun when he's in public? | ||
| Josh_ |
... and body armor, it's up to you to protect yourself ya know | ||
| Henrik |
As a fellow physician, let me say this: what a dick! Henrik | ||
| Prez |
i dont even know how to express my feelings on this one..what a putz!!!!! especially after having wrecked my bike bcuz of a 16 yr old kid pulling out in front of me.. atleast the kid was sorry, if it had been this doctor i think i'd have re-arranged his face with my helmet!!! then i'd look at him and say "you should have known,why are'nt YOU wearing a helmet?" | ||
| Ryker77 |
Mail your letters to Voice of the People, The South Bend Tribune, 225 W. Colfax Ave., South Bend, IN 46626; e-mail them to vop@sbtinfo.com; or fax to (574) 236-1765. Letters may be no more than 200 words. Longer submissions will be considered for Michiana Point of View. All submissions are subject to editing. Please include your full name, which will be printed, and your street address and telephone number, which will be kept confidential but are necessary for verification purposes. | ||
| Jlnance |
Henrik, Would you consider writing a letter? As a physician and a rider, your opinion will be taken more seriously than ours. - Jim | ||
| Ryker77 |
William Rozzi MD 51116 Shamrock Hills Ct Granger, IN 46530 | ||
| Ryker77 |
Uninformed opinions written at the expense of the respect for others are opinions not needing to be heard. I was very offended in the response by Dr. William Rozzi (Voice, Jan. 18) to the articles related to cell phones. First he insults an intelligent man he knows nothing about by claiming that he was responsible for his own death without even knowing the true incident that transpired. Not only does Rozzi offend any friends and family of the young man killed in that crash, he also insults any motorcycle rider in the area. It's OK to be against the issue, but why involve arguments you know nothing about, resulting in pain and grief for others? Unfortunately, every day I am faced with the lack of respect and kindness our society has for others. Jessica Brenay Mishawaka http://southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060125/Opinion04/601250 464/-1/OPINION/CAT=Opinion04 | ||
| Bigj |
I don't disagree with him. Chances are if the same rider were driving a car, he would have not been dead or severely injured. | ||
| Chasespeed |
You know, there was something on Dateline the other nite, wish I recorded it... Basically, here was the conclusiong. Drunk drivers, a SEVERE danger, Sleep deprived, the only a slightly smaller risk, (single digit percentage difference in reaction), AND multitaksing drivers,(cell phones, nav systems, radio, etc), actually, we the same danger, if not more.... The NHSTA, has been made aware of these findings, and from what I understand, are conduction their own study. I also know, that some other states, besides, NY, and a couple others, are looking to outlaw using the phone with out a hands free kit... BUT, the study concluded, that, even holding an intense conversation using a hands free kit, is still VERY distracting... i will see if I can find that story, and watch it again... Chase | ||
| Light_keeper |
Essentually then anyone who gets hurt/killed it is their own fault for not taking the proper precautions to prevent it. A pedestrian crossing the street that is killed by a driver who is not paying attention is at fault. One who dies of heart failure should have seen it coming and taken better care. (Tell that to Jim Fixx family) I guess the only way to be fully covered is to check into the hospital and live in a bubble being monitored 24/7 and then hope that the medical staff is up to snuff. Oh but then it would be my responsibility to check and see if that was current. As I see it every thing is my responsibility and everything is my fault. Good thing I did not fly to NY on 9/11 it would be my fault. Life is full of risks. Taking risks is part of living a full and complete life.  | ||
| Spreadem |
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| Bigj |
The more I re-read the doctor's statement, the more I agree with it. He is essentially saying if personal safety is important to you, don't bring a knife to a gun fight. | ||
| Glitch |
So what Joel is saying, if he's out riding his Beemer and is beaned by a car not paying attention it's Joel's fault, and if he's living he'll just brush himself off and say to the "driver", "Oops, my bad!"? | ||
| Glitch |
Or is Joel being a troll? | ||
| Light_keeper |
Do we have any postal workers out there? Remember poor choice for a job. Anything happens it's your fault. | ||
| Mikej |
I believe the gist of Bigj's interpretation of what the doctor meant is that if you want to survive then drive the biggest toughest dang rig that you can afford, and if not then don't complain when you get squished. Last one to the Hummer dealer is a scrambled egg. Hmmm, wasn't Court recently shopping for a Ford SuperDuty Truck? Application in action. | ||
| Mikej |
I wonder what this doctor's opinion is on gun control. The death still sucks though, and it was preventable - mainly by the van driver. Accidents happen, negligence causes them to happen more often. |
