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Monday, September 1, 2008
From Dad: A plea to young drivers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dear Amelia and Zach:
Hope all is well as you settle in for another year in college. The house is mighty empty without you two.
Your mom and I saw something this morning, which is why I’m writing.
We were running down Mt. Vernon and came upon an accident that took place a couple of minutes before we got there. There were two girls on their way to school when another vehicle pulled out in front of them. There was a lot of twisted metal and broken glass.
I know you have heard me rail about those “idiot” parents that give their kids access to these big SUVs. You two know how fast I can climb on to my soapbox. It’s too much car for a kid to drive - back when I was that age most kids got a small car as their first vehicle. It’s just stupid that any teenager is driving one of those big tanks.
Like I said there was a lot of twisted metal and broken glass. But the two girls did not have scratch on them. They were shaken but who wouldn’t be? No cuts, no scraps, no bruises. And lucky for them a woman who saw the whole thing had pulled over and was waiting to serve as a witness.
When I climbed into the vehicle get their school books out I had to maneuver around several air bags that had deployed. The front end of the vehicle was smashed but the passenger compartment was intact and if the airbags weren’t out you wouldn’t have know anything had happened. That big old SUV protected those two.
It was not lost on me that these girls were just about your age, Amelia. And if anyone saw the look in the eyes of their mothers when they got to the scene of the accident you’d not forget it any time soon. The good news is that both appeared to be more scared than injured.
You two are probably wondering where the old guy is going with this. I’m going to ask a favor and I’ll do one in return. I promise to talk less and think more. I promise to set the soapbox off to the side so I can better use my eyes and ears to take in the bigger picture.
What I’m asking from you is this. When you’re driving, slow down a couple miles per hour. Turn the music down a notch or two. Turn off your phone. Be aware of the other drivers.
That’s my favor to you and that’s your favor to me.
I love you two so much,
Dad
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