RAVE NOT TO BLAME FOR FATAL ACCIDENT

It's too bad we still have to blame other people for our
mistakes.

I found the article "Teen fined for rave accident" (July 8)
particularly fascinating considering the fact that drugs or alcohol
did not contribute to the accident. If they had, they certainly would
have been to blame.

The cause of this accident was most likely fatigue due to this
all-night party.

So, Ottawa-Carleton police Chief Vince Bevan felt prompted to crack
down on raves.

How about Marjorie Savoie, the driver, taking responsibility? How
about if Chief Bevan realizes that this accident was nobody's fault
but Ms. Savoie's? Why should the rave promoters and their businesses
suffer?

They provide shuttle buses both to and from the event. They make sure
to check bags for drugs and alcohol, yet that is not good enough.

I'm in my early 20s and during high school I spent my weekends at
raves.

Not once did I feel unsafe, and not once was I ever stupid enough to
get in my car, after dancing till the early morning, and drive my
friends home.

These parties kept me and my peers out of trouble. I'm tired of
hearing how awful these raves are. Open your paper on Monday morning
and take a look at the number of stabbings or shootings in the Byward
Market over the weekend.

Let's crack down on drinking in bars. That will stop the violence and
bring down drunk-driving offences -- which are rare at raves.

This accident was extremely tragic and unfortunate, yet my brain tells
me that in a world with so many different problems, we can make
solutions easier if we take responsibility for our personal errors.
It's an easy solution to a common problem.

Megan Balcivnas,
Ottawa