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DEL.ICIO.USBe responsible - it can mean life or death
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is about all teenagers as much as it is about high school athletes. This is about responsibility. This is about life and death.
Too often we read about young athletes with apparently bright futures who are killed in car accidents. The most recent tragedy on January 20 — Jackson wide receiver John Keye, who was going to sign with Kentucky — sounds the alarm again for the need for parents and coaches, teachers and administrators to stress to our kids the significance of doing what is right behind the wheel.
In Keye’s sad case, he and his girlfriend apparently were eating while driving — and not wearing their seatbelts. They ended up in a one-car accident in which they were thrown from the vehicle.
Over the Christmas break, former W.D. Muhammad star swimmer Luqman El-Amin died in a one-car accident after attending a game with his alma mater and Decatur High. And on and on.
Yearly, there are these stories that tug the heart, each of them almost always are the result of speeding, talking on cellphones, horsing around or some other act that can be described as irresponsible.
Obviously, more kids than not get to and fro with no problem. Most show they understand how dangerous driving can be.
But with a 15-year-old daughter, I know already my position will be to every day without fail remind, implore, beg her to be responsible behind the wheel.
Kids believe they are invincible, even as they mourn the loss of a classmate. They do not believe it could happen to them.
Well, it can, and not only is it critical that the adults hammer home the notion of defensive driving and responsibility at the helm of a car — it’s life and death.
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Comments
By Jenna
February 1, 2007 08:53 PM | Link to this
I was very close to Luqman. He was an amazing person. Every time I get behind the wheel, I drive more careful because of him.