As horrific as this past weekend’s accident on Oak Street was, we are beyond fortunate that we are not discussing a fatal tragedy instead. On the surface, we could all readily agree that a combination of excessive alcohol consumption and speed were the circumstances that could have led to the loss of many lives. It is the possible underlying cause that I believe requires our immediate attention. Too many of us are giving our children adult responsibilities with adolescent rationale. We hand them the keys to a 4,000-pound weapon and expect our children to maturely rationalize and heed our warning to not drink and drive. We pray they will and are thankful that a majority of them do. As adults, we need to make it more difficult for those who may not.

I am personally involved with the passenger who was most severely injured this weekend. Like many girls her age, she has a curfew. 9:30 p.m. I know this because I have driven her home an uncounted number of times over the past year or so to meet that curfew. My son would have enjoyed that responsibility had it not been for the two speeding tickets and a minor read-end collision within a relatively short period of time that made me realize that, even though the law said he was mature and responsible enough to independently own and operate a vehicle, I did not. The front end bumper was repaired, and the vehicle was given away to a family member.

Though I can’t possibly assume to know what those children were thinking when they climbed into that truck, I have to wonder if they were simply attempting to not break the insignificant rule of a missed curfew even after they had chosen to disregard the life-threatening one. Our children’s judgment is naturally impaired by its undeveloped ability to maturely reason. Adding an excessive amount of alcohol is not always necessary to eliminate that ability completely.

Personally, I would like to see the national driving age increased. Even stricter rules placed on hours of operation may help. For now, it is up to those of us responsible for our children’s safety to impose those rules if necessary. Other than making our own lives more convenient by giving them the ability to drive to and from work or school, or the occasional errand we may request, do they really need constant and unlimited access to any vehicle?

Before anyone suggests that this issue doesn’t apply to them because they have “good” kids, don’t. This doesn’t have anything to do with categorizing our kids as good or bad. I can only speak for one of those involved, but I consider her to be a good kid. A good kid who made horribly bad decisions. Do I consider myself to be a good mother for taking away my own son’s vehicle? No, just a very lucky one. Lucky that I was given physical warning signs of my son’s inability to make good decisions when behind the wheel and that I didn’t ignore them. Not all parents are as personally fortunate. I can only hope that this past weekend has given ALL parents a warning sign to stop and evaluate their own individual situations.

Leanne Hunt

Wareham