Reid Hollister was a great kid. Who didn't go to his senior prom or graduate from high school. The car Reid was driving skidded on a rain-slicked highway. Reid was just 17 when he died.
Reid's father -- a friend of mine -- has channeled his grief into helping other parents and their teen drivers. Tim Hollister's blog -- From Reid's Dad -- gets 12,000 visitors each month.
Monday night Tim and other experts spoke about teen driver safety at a Hartford church. The occasion was the launch of Tim's new book Not So Fast: Parenting Your Teen Through the Dangers of Driving. Publishers Weekly called the book a "concise, practical, and potentially life-saving book" that should be "required reading for every parent before their teen gets behind the wheel."
This is a worthwhile cause. A lot of teenagers think they are better drivers than they are, and they feel a need to show off for friends.
ReplyDeleteThis is sad story turned positive. He has certainly engaged himself in a very worthwhile mission. More power to him.
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly a constructive way to channel the grief.
ReplyDeleteIts a tragic situation Jack. Every time I hear on the radio of another young person dying in a car crash it breaks my heart. Its just so unnecessary. Reid's father is doing a wonderful thing, lets hope it has positive results.
ReplyDeleteA huge problem here too, and you have to be 18 to get your driving licence here.
ReplyDeleteA positive and constructive way to channel grief indeed! It is always so heartbreaking to hear of still another young person dying in an auto crash. Hopefully, Reid's father will be able to make a difference. Thanks for sharing this, Jack!
ReplyDeleteOh, these teen drivers... very dramatic here too...
ReplyDeleteReid's father is doing a great thing, I hope it helps.
So good when people channel their grief and experience so positively. At least it will make people think. Over here the numerous accidents with young drivers have sent car insurance costs sky-high. My son-in-law, a responsible 32 years old but newly qualified driver, can't afford insurance in London.
ReplyDeleteI am sure Reid's father has found this difficult, but what a seriously worthwhile cause. My son will be driving, on his own, next month.
ReplyDeleteOne of my worst workday memories is the day I arrived at the high school where I worked, midday, to see a helicopter airlifting away from the back of the school. Two students played "chicken" at high speeds on their motorcycles at lunch. One was killed and the second nearly crippled. It sobered most of the students at the time, but that was one group, at one time. Tim Hollister is doing a good thing to keep the message alive.
ReplyDeleteSometimes there are some positive outcomes from tragedies such as this. I cannot, however, help but wish that wisdom could be obtained in a less painful way. After teaching teen-aagers for many years, I have observed too many of the outcomes of adolescents' feelings of invincibility. I am still haunted by the memories of some of them and cannot discuss one or two to whom I was very close without weeping a bit. Wish I could have watched them grow up!
ReplyDeleteI could think of some adults how could benefit from this.
ReplyDeleteEvery parent is stricken by such thoughts. Heaven help my own parents if they knew about the stupid things I did when I was 17 or 18
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this, Jack.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course you can think anything you like about the 747 on top of the waterpark in McMinnville.
Scary and sad
ReplyDeleteHow sad so many young drivers are killed or hurt every year. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteYou have to be 18 to drive in Sweden. But we still see a lot of accidents with young drivers. I will have a look at your friends blog now.
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