Reckless Driving Can Lead to Tragedy
Commentary by John Jordan

I want to thank Deb Olsen for her Commentary article last week titled “Ask Your Teen Driver to Read This!.” Her story “rings” true for our family. Recently, I witnessed some very reckless and dangerous driving by two local neighbors on Lake Road.
I won’t go into the details, but it was bad enough for me to call one of the drivers’ parents. The parents were extremely appreciative, although the teen-age driver was less than happy after having driving privileges revoked for a lengthy period of time. I know I would want to be contacted if my kids were seen driving erratically and recklessly so I could prevent something horrible from happening in the future. However, I think the driver in question thought I had “ratted” him out to his parents and maybe he didn’t fully realize the tremendous impact teen-age drivers inflict upon families and friends when they disregard the laws of the road. So I decided to write him a letter about a story when I was a kid in high school. I thought it would be good to share it with the town on the heels of Deb Olsen’s Commentary.

“I imagine you have been thinking poorly of me for “ratting” you out to your parents regarding the driving I witnessed earlier this week. I haven’t heard what your parents decided to do in regard to your driving privileges, but I’m sure you are ‘not pleased.’
I thought hard about what I should do before I called your mother. I did contemplate just using it as an example to tell my kids how not to drive and the consequences that can happen, and leave it at that. Then I thought back to my high school days and a friend of mine named Tucky Gee (funny name, but he was a funny guy and a close friend).
In my junior year, Tucky and one of his friends left school to go have lunch at his friend’s house. It was a clear calm day much like the day when I witnessed your speeding. The driver decided it would be fun to race home. It was a decision that ended Tucky’s life when they went out of control on a country road and wrapped their car around a tree. The driver sustained permanent brain damage, and Tucky’s parents lost their oldest child.
Afterward, I remember seeing Tucky’s mother coming into school to collect items from his locker and to talk with the school officials. Her expression of deep despair and sadness was not something I would wish upon anyone…including your parents. That is why I decided to share what I saw with your mother. If I can do something to help insure that one of our friends’ kids stays safe and alive…then I have to make that decision…there is no other choice.
I’m sure you will stay mad at me, and I’m OK with that. But realize that being a kid is a constant phase of different learning and experiences. I hope this letter and experience around it will be a positive force going forward in your life….and that your parents can enjoy many years of shared memories with you into the future.”

Sincerely,
“The Rat Mr. Jordan”
John Jordan