Deathly Impaired Driving: Real World Problem

Real World Problem Final 2

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Scenario:
Over the years, the teen crash rates have sky-rocketed; this problem needs to be solved. Recently, I was severely impacted by the consequences of a young driver texting behind the wheel. On October 16, one month after my 20th birthday, I was hit by a teenage girl that was texting; she ran the red light, hit my car straight on, and sent us both spiraling into the barrier. Luckily, my injuries weren't fatal; I have two broken legs, and three broken ribs. The young driver, wasn't so lucky; she is now paralyzed from her neck down. Both the young girl and I have learned a tough lesson; she got her license three days prior to the crash. Since the incident, I have joined the group PATWD (people against texting while driving). We go around and talk to high school students, share our stories, and even do a re-enactment of a car crash. Our programs show the students what could happen to them if they chose to drive irresponsibly. Before talking to students, our group has to ask permission of the local parents; I obviously believe that this program is very effective, and I hope your community allows us to come and talk to your children and maybe even save a couple of lives.

Connection to the novel:
Throughout a section of Fahrenheit 451, Clarisse talks about the violence and driving issues with her classmates; little did she know that the issue would end her short, happy life. In Clarisse's life, teens are violent and reckless; in our life, teens are the same way--their ways of violence are different. On contrast, both sets of teens drive recklessly--in the novel, they drive way over a speed limit that we have now, and in our world, teenagers are texting and talking while driving; a decision that is fatal. In the novel, it was even peculiar to drive under 40 mph. We now have speeding limits--a limit which you are enforced to drive under; throughout Fahrenheit 451, they had speeding limits--a limit which you are enforced to drive over. This, along with many other facts, shows just how different our two worlds are.