There were two episodes in recent weeks that led people to label what once would have been viewed as an accident and a tragedy instead as societal "epidemics."

First, an apparent case of driver error led a 74-year-old woman to crash her vehicle through the front of the Cheeburger Cheeburger restaurant in Amherst, killing a couple and injuring their teenage son. Almost immediately, cries went up that elderly drivers crashing through buildings were becoming an "epidemic" and something had to be done about it.

Just a day later, 14-year-old Williamsville North High School freshman Jamey Rodemeyer took his own life, allegedly driven to such a desperate measure by the relentless taunting of bullies because of his sexual orientation.

Almost immediately everyone from local talk show hosts to singer Lady Gaga were using his death to trumpet the "epidemic" of bullying that is plaguing our nation.

While both events were tragic and heartbreaking for the families and others, they have, unfortunately, become the latest in a long line of isolated incidents to lead to knee-jerk overreaction on the part of ... well, all of us.

Take the restaurant crash. While I can't even begin to imagine the horror not only for that family but everyone in the restaurant and the driver herself, it was an isolated, unfortunate accident. Instead of seeing it as that, the call immediately went out to "take away old people's licenses."

As I asked people what constituted too old to drive, I was taken aback at some of the answers I got: 75, 70, even 65. I don't know about you, but thanks to our government, I will need to work full-time for at least a decade past my 65th birthday, so I sure as heck hope they let me drive.

My father-in-law is in his 70s and still runs his own business, plays golf several times a week and is a better driver than I am. Should he have to turn in his license because people get in accidents?

Just as the cry from the "take their licenses" crowd reached a fever pitch, the Amherst Town Board decided to get in on the overreaction game. Citing five crashes in recent weeks involving vehicles colliding with buildings, the board took steps to mandate protective barriers for all new-builds.

Just in case New York isn't unfriendly enough to business owners, and just in case it isn't tough enough to fund the startup of a business in the current economy, the village board has added another financial burden to prospective Amherst businesses.

If five accidents were enough to warrant a new regulation, why stop there? I'm certain five children have fallen off playground equipment in the last month. Let's require installation of air mats under every jungle gym. I know at least five cars have crossed the yellow line and caused accidents. Let's mandate Jersey Barriers divide every road in Western New York.

Where does it stop?

Accidents happen. To constantly respond with these knee-jerk reactions is both ineffective and, I think, an affront to those whose lives were lost. Ask yourself: Were we really any safer post-9/11 when they banned shampoo on commercial flights and we all had to take our shoes off? Of course not.

Then there is the issue of bullying. I knew we were in trouble when Sen. Chuck Schumer, who has never met a camera he didn't like, weighed in on the issuer: Like all politicians, he wants to pass more legislation.

Memo to Chuck: Cocaine is illegal, people use it; prostitution is illegal, but if you are lonely, flip to the back of an Artvoice for some "company." Speeding, driving drunk and stealing - all illegal and all common these days.

If legislation were the answer, we wouldn't have the problems we do. Combating bullying doesn't require more legislation; it require a united attack. We need to open the schools to host community meetings. Bring in the parents, the students and the community leaders to talk, listen and learn. Real change is going to happen when everyone unites in a collaborative effort to evolve attitudes toward what is acceptable behavior, not when Sen. Schumer votes on another bill.

As horrific as it is to consider, in the case of the Cheeburger Cheeburger crash, accidents do happen and as much as we would like to, we can't protect against everything. The idea of punishing a group for the actions of a few is just as crazy as the notion that we should burden business owners with an unnecessary cost to ensure against an improbable occurrence.

As for the death of Jamey Rodemeyer, could it have been prevented? Possibly, but to boil it down to bullying is grossly oversimplifying the issue. This young man needed help and support far beyond what he received.

Unfortunately, at the end of the day, you can push as many unfunded anti-bullying mandates on the schools as you like, but bullies have always existed and they always will.

The answer to controlling the problem lies far deeper than the bullies lurking on the surface.