Stagg Line
Speeding is not a game : Consequences of reckless driving range from high fines to deathTuesday, March 20, 2007 By Stagg Line
“I’ve gone 120 on the freeway.” Beyond stupidity right? Two student drivers were pulled out of class, randomly, and both, unhesitatingly, admitted to having done this. Two for two. At this rate, it’s probably safe to say that there are more students out there who can confess to the same crime. That’s kind of hard to understand. “I have no excuse; I just felt like doing it,” one student said. Here’s the break down. We are all well aware that speeding is illegal. And we are all aware that you are increasing the risk of losing control of the car. But what if you killed not yourself, but someone else? It would be hard for anyone to live with that. All because you just felt like doing it. The other student said he would kill himself if that ever happened. Imagine going 60 miles per hour in a residential area and an innocent child scrambles into the street and in an instant another life is gone. No driver is invincible. There would be no way you could stop the car in time. A senior student driver responded to this statement by saying he would just dodge the kid. Driving is not dodge ball. It is not a game. You do not have to be drunk to drive reckless, either. These students were all self-conscious and sober. And it’s not that they are dumb; actually the students happen to be in honors and Advanced Placement courses so they have some kind of sense if that makes the situation any better. So the consequences of their actions are sometimes overlooked, but that excuse is not good enough to get you out of trouble. For the students who were going 120 and any other students also guilty, here’s what will happen if you are pulled over. Approximately $1,300 fine for reckless driving. The vehicle is impounded for at least 30 days, then that’s another $900 or so to get it out. If you had a prior conviction the city would seize your car, and it would be auctioned off. This is not even mentioning insurance rates going through the roof. And although this may seem completely irrational, what if you got in an accident. You are responsible for any damages. If there were a death, you would be charged with second degree murder and that is 20 years to life. So all because you felt like it, this is the price. It is definitely not worth it. Three students from Tokay High School died Tuesday, Feb. 27 on West Lane in a speeding accident. Young lives…gone. Speeding can kill you. Think about it. |