My town lost a teenager yesterday. I’m crushed. I didn’t know this boy, or his family, and I didn’t teach him to drive, but I know my town and I know teenage drivers. According to the police report it was a single vehicle crash with excessive speed. I drove through that same road half an hour earlier with my daughter, and we pulled over for the fire truck that was probably responding to the accident on our way home.
It wasn’t my kid but it could have been any of my students. It’s a skinny road with curves and hills and wildlife, and the corner of the crash is a blind intersection. I don’t know what happened. I do know that when teenagers have their license for a little while, sometimes they like to push the boundaries, and think that they know every turn of a road like that and can go fast. It wasn’t dark, it wasn’t bad weather, and the driver was alone with no one to show off for. These things really can happen anywhere, anytime. As a parent, and as a teacher this is so scary.
I know that our amazing high school, starting next week with one less senior, will respond with grief counselors, and the town will rally around the family with food and cards and anything we can think of to be supportive. Let’s please take a moment to think of this family, this whole community which will be affected, and think about what we can do. Let’s start changing the culture that says that faster is better, driving is a place where you can shave off a few minutes out of your busy day, and that people who go the speed limit are annoying. Hug your kids and remind them to drive carefully. Model safe driving and take care of each other.
-thedriversedlady