Terrible Tragedy Calls for Honest Talk

If you live in Howard County, MD. you are aware that a football player at River Hill High School was killed over the weekend in a drunk driving accident. I don't think the details of his death are significant. Bottom line is he got in a vehicle with someone who should not have been driving and now he is gone. His family is suffering, the driver's family is suffering and an entire school is suffering today.

Now what? We put banged up cars in front of our schools as a warning to our kids that drinking and driving hurts. The school system begins discussing substance use and abuse in second grade when kids are introduced to the dangers of smoking. This is clearly not enough.

You, parents, have to talk to your own children. Make a pact. Let them know that you don't want the fear of punishment to cause them to get in a car that they can't drive or that someone else can't drive. Let them know that no matter the hour or the circumstances, they should call you for a ride home and you will come get them so that they will stay safe.

I'm sure that there are many families who would much rather have sacrificed an hour or so of sleep than their child.

My heart goes out to the Erdman and the Dankos families and to the staff and students at River Hill High School. You are in the thoughts and prayers of the entire community.