It’s a cliché, but that does not make it any less true. From the time your son or daughter begins driving, or even riding with other teens, it is every parent’s worst nightmare. You receive a knock on the door and it is a New Jersey State police trooper. At that point, you may not even need them to say anything, as you know why they are at your door.
Two families in New Jersey suffered through this nightmare in July when their sons died in a car accident, where a third teen was driving. That boy has now been charged with two counts of death by auto.
The mother of one of the boys who died said of the charges, “My heart is breaking” for that boy and his family because the three boys were good friends. The car accident occurred when the car the carrying the teens missed a turn and crashed.
This accident serves as a reminder to all teens and parents of the risks posed by operating and riding in a car or truck. Many teens are excited to obtain their license and gain some degree of independence from their parents. Many parents are relieved that they are excused from the necessity of driving their children everywhere.
And it illustrates why teen drivers are only granted probationary driving privileges. For a driver younger than 18, they are only permitted one other passenger unless they are with their parent or guardian.
Teens are so young and so painfully inexperienced, no matter how mature they think themselves to be. This boy will live the rest of his life, knowing the incredibly expensive cost of his momentary, youthful mistake.
NJ.com, “Randolph mom: ‘My heart is breaking’ for teen driver charged in son’s death,” Louis C. Hochman, NJ Advance Media, September 13, 2014
