It’s Monday morning.  Your alarm clock didn’t go off, and you just realized that there’s probably no way you’re going to get to class on time  unless you speed of course.

Every day,  hundreds of teenagers fly down Route 22, and the last thing on their minds is “slowing down” or “buckling up.”

But it should be.

Are teenagers suddenly invincible and immune to the rules?  Do they possess certain super human abilities no one is aware of?  Why do they feel it’s safe to break the rules when they’re operating thousands of pounds of steel?

Even in JC’s own parking lot, kids are hanging off cars, standing in the middle of the streets playing catch, running around and engaging in a host of other impractical activities.

There are always student drivers having accidents in the parking lot, but is it because they are distracted? Or are others around them totally oblivious and apathetic to what is going on around them?

It’s hard to tell.

This issue of speeding and overall semi-reckless driving has been proven to be a serious one, especially as far as parents are concerned.  How can they go to work every day and not be in a panic if they are sending a driver who thinks themselves as Super Man or Wonder Woman out onto the road?  It’s  impossible, and it leads to huge anxiety for many.

Recently, a traffic accident occurred that took the life of a Fallston student, Joey d’Entremont.  When teen drivers are even slightly distracted, they cannot control their car to the best ability.  While Joey may have crossed when the traffic light said not to, if the teen driving the car had been paying adequate attention, they would likely have had better reaction time and potentially prevented the accident.

Joey’s story is just another example of how teen drivers need to slow down and be cautious on the roads.  In cases like these, it may even save a life.

While it may seem like the “cool” thing to do and “no big deal,” speeding poses serious threats not only to the safety of teens but also the safety of everyone around them.  So, slow down and drive like you’re sane for heaven’s sake it won’t be the first time you were late to mod one.

Ashley Snyder can be reached for comment at [email protected]