Name: Sarah Gentry
From: McEwen, TN
Votes: 0
At 3 a.m. on July 4, 2019, Officer
John Anderson of Nashville was added to the list of 40 Metro Police
officers killed in the line of duty. Anderson was on his way to
assist another officer with a pedestrian walking along the interstate
when his police car was slammed into, causing the vehicle to spin
into a light pole, killing him within minutes. Anderson’s car was
slammed into by a car driven by Jayona Brown, a 17-year-old girl
driving on a suspended license. Anderson was only 28-years-old when
his life was taken by a negligent driver.
Before a TN resident can get a
driver’s license, both a written test and a driving test must be
taken. In order to pass these tests, the driver must read the
Driver’s Manual extensively. The written test only allows for six
missed questions out of thirty total questions. This means you should
study carefully!
While this testing seems
unimportant to some, I believe Officer Anderson would argue against
that. Proper licensure and responsible driving education would’ve
saved his life that early Tennessee morning. Jayona Brown did not
have the legal right to be driving, and because of her
irresponsibility, a precious life was lost.
Though I have never been in an
accident myself, I read stories like the one above nearly every week.
Accidents like this remind us of the gravity and serious
responsibility that driving carries with it. In order to minimize the
dangers and life-threatening aspects of the road, we must ensure we
are properly licensed and allowed to be on the road. We must also
equip ourselves with the knowledge necessary to make wise decisions.
It is critically important to know what you’re doing when driving.
Your life and the lives of the
drivers in the lane next to you depend on your responsibility and
knowledge of the road and responsible driving. You have the power to
save lives or end them. It’s up to you how you use your privilege
to get behind the wheel.
Story of Officer John Anderson
taken from here
and here.
