#LiveLikeJax – Stop Mourning our Friends

On June 8th, 2023, my community lost a friend and family member, Jaxon, to a motorcycle accident. While he was killed in a hit-and-run that could have been prevented, we also know that he was driving irresponsibly. At the young age of 17, our friend lost his life riding his motorcycle at highway speeds on a main road. Our community was devastated by the loss. Experiencing the days after I heard the news, a lot of thoughts crossed my mind. I was truly devastated by the nature of the accident and fixated on his final thoughts. I should not have had to be thinking of this as a 17-year-old mourning the death of her 17-year-old friend. We should not have had to mourn the death of our friend due to a reckless driving accident. I feel there are ways this could have been prevented. I have experienced both being in a car accident and seeing my friend driving irresponsibly. This is why I know now more than ever, less than a month after my friend’s death, that driver education is important in reducing driving-related deaths.

I truly believe that driver education is one way that we can reduce the number of deaths as a result of driving. If new drivers are not educated on the risks and consequences of driving, then how can we, as drivers, feel safe in our cars? It doesn’t have to be your fault for you to lose your life. This means that everyone’s lives are at risk if drivers are not educated. The issue is much bigger than just ourselves. It may start with us, but driver education must be deeply rooted in our whole society for change. This is the first step in reducing deaths as a result of driving.

This won’t be an easy issue to fix, but there are some areas we can start. I believe that voting for the right people with the right intentions is a good start. I believe that change can come from well-thought-out and appropriate legislation. This is a direct result of who we elect. I believe in driver education courses for all new drivers. However, some states do not require this for their new drivers, including the state I live in, Tennessee. I think this should be mandatory in all states for all drivers seeking a license.

On a further note, concerning legislation, I am not sure why teenagers are allowed to drive and acquire motorcycles to drive. I believe that had my friend not been driving a motorcycle before he was a legal adult, he would still be alive, and I wouldn’t be writing about him. To further this, another teenager faced the same fate on the same night as a result of another motorcycle accident. Two lives were lost this night due to the reckless driving of a motorcycle. A community of teenagers left wondering how their friends were able to ride motorcycles at this young age. A community of teenagers mourning the deaths of their friends who had just graduated and were ready to start their lives. This should have set off warning bells for legislation in Tennessee for stricter regulations on the ages of those who can operate motorcycles. This must change. We can not lose more lives to motorcycle accidents. This is just the starting place for a reduction in driving-related deaths. I believe that stricter punishments for driving-related offenses, notably DUIs, could be a deterrent for people to commit these offenses. There needs to be more regulations and restrictions on both the operation of motorcycles and driving-related offenses.

I can take several steps to be a safer driver. I can pay more attention while driving and having friends in the car. I can positively influence my friends to pay more attention as well. When I see my friends using their phones and driving, I can explain the dangers and consequences. If I see someone attempting to drive home under the influence, I can stop them or offer to drive. If we don’t change at a young age, we won’t be able to influence new generations and reduce the number of driving-related deaths per year.

There is a severe need for change. We must stop mourning our friends and family as a result of reckless driving. So, before you text and drive, drive under the influence, or participate in distracted driving, I want you to think about the people who might have to grieve for you or the families you could affect by your actions. I want you to remember the lives of those lost and understand why it must stop. My friend Jaxon was unapologetically himself and was a light to those around him. I will strive to be the same way and remember the phrase that our friends and his family say, “Live Like Jax”. But I also remember that I don’t want to Live Like Jaxon, I want to and should be living WITH Jaxon.