According to UnitedJustice.com, it is estimated that highway fatalities account for more than 94% of all transportation deaths. Last year, there were 41,059 fatalities on the nation’s highways (www.nhtsa.dot.gov). Though down from the previous year, the numbers are still disturbing.

Those statistics are now far lodged in my brain especially after seeing two terrible accidents on my way home from downtown Cleveland last night and it hasn’t even snowed yet! So as I drove home, I said a prayer. I asked that God protect the occupants of those vehicles and I prayed that they would make it home to be with their families tonight. I prayed that no one would lose a loved one yesterday evening due to a traffic accident.

I prayed for my sons and my daughters. I prayed for my nieces and my nephews. I prayed for my brothers and sisters and I prayed for my husband. I prayed that they would all come home safe and sound tonight. And I prayed for everyone’s sons, daughters, nieces, brothers, sisters and spouses. I prayed that no one would lose their life due the recklessness of others.

Why do these statistics bother me so much? Well maybe, it is because I am a mother of boys and statistics have shown time and time again that men are 2.5 times more likely to die from an accident than are women. When I say accidents in this instance, I am also referring to sports-, motor bike-, skateboarding- and other-related accidents which can lead to brain injury. In the United States alone, 35,000 men are likely to die a year as a result of an accident. In the age 15 to 24 age group, the ratio is 4 men to 1 woman dying as a result of an accident. So why is it that men have more accidents than woman and also die from? Simple, men are risk takers and women are not. More men and boys will engage in high risk behaviors than do woman.

So I ask everyone who has sons to warn them about irresponsible behaviors and shortened life spans. And in the meantime, I will keep praying for my sons and for yours. Let us pray all that they drive safely. Let us pray that they make it home safely tonight and every night thereafter. And let us pray that they do not engage in reckless behaviors that endanger their lives and the lives of others.