Daniel Victor Peek, six foot one, one-hundred and eighty five pounds had his entire life ahead of him. As a freshman, Daniel started his high school career as the first string quarterback for one of the best football teams in the state of Georgia. He was one of the most popular and definitely one of the most attractive kids in school. He was the epitome of the typical “football star” in the movies. His name even sounded like it. Everyone knew him and that he was surely going places in life. On May 5 of 2007 Daniel was leaving a Cinco de Mayo party and had a car wreck. He was ejected from his Jeep Cherokee and was knocked unconscious. The whole community mourned as the news of Daniel spread. He was put into intensive care at the local hospital but never woke up. After numerous surgeries and procedures, Daniel passed away four days later on May 9, 2007.
This I believe in seatbelts. On May 5, 2007, if Daniel would have worn his seatbelt he would have possibly survived his car wreck. This year he would be joining the millions of people his age in beginning their freshman year of college, and most likely playing football at a prestigious university. Daniels perfect life was laid out for him, but in a split moment it was all stripped away from him when he did not strap his seatbelt. Only sixty-eight percent of drivers wear their seatbelt. Such a simple task saves almost ten thousand lives a year, so why do people still fail to buckle up?
A seatbelt is far more than an uncomfortable harness. It is an object of protection. Superman wears his cape, football players wear their helmets, and people wear their seatbelts. They are all pieces of armor. I make sure that every person in my car wears their seatbelt for the mere reason that I would not be living without my seatbelt. I rolled my SUV five times into a river. My car crash should have been fatal but because I was taught at an early age to always buckle up, I was one of the ten thousand people that were saved. Police are finally starting to crack down on the use of seatbelts, so when stepping foot into a car, click-it or ticket.