I Go Out Seeking Death

When I decided I was going to start this project I realized that, really, what I was going to do was get in a car and go look for places where people died in cars.

Sort of bleak, but at the same time the idea spoke to me; it allowed me to combine my two current passions — automobiles and photography — in a way that was seemingly unique and a reasonably good use of my time. Plus, it was going to push me to become a better photographer by forcing me to actively look for new content, rather than just take more photos of my wife, my world, and my cars.

So I go out seeking death.

My wife commented today as we were driving on the Oregon Coast, enjoying the day and looking for memorials, that we will probably end up dead on the side of the road. I said, “ah, that was probably my fate regardless the way I drive.” That wasn’t the right thing to say, apparently, but statistically it’s probably true. An awful lot of people die in cars in America, although the rate has been improving, and I spent way more time than most people driving high-horsepower vehicles than is probably advised.

But I’ll be careful. I promise.

Fortunately, I suppose, I have found that looking for descansos has forced me to change my driving style: until now I would sort of drive at the pace the road seemed to dictate, safely of course, would pass slower traffic when possible, and often played a little game out of “how much time can we shave off the estimated time of arrival.” Now, ironically perhaps, I am driving the speed limit or slower to give myself the opportunity to spot these often small tributes and, when I see them, stop without having to jam on my carbon ceramic brakes.

But yeah, I still go out seeking death.