Traffic School & Defensive Driving

Jack groaned as the alarm went off again. The fall semester wasn't even half over, and his classes already had him swamped. It seemed that the marketing majors were being prepared for long days and even longer weeks – and he had an important presentation in his afternoon class, coming after a staff meeting at the advertising agency where he was an intern.

Jack rushed out the door 45 minutes later, running a little behind schedule. It was a cool, damp morning and the rain had just started to fall. His silver car was covered in a different kind of shower – this one was a bunch of yellow leaves, which Jack brushed off the windshield and windows, knowing that it would be hard to see ahead if he didn't. It was still early, so his fellow students were moving slowly, and he had to wait for several to wander past before backing his car out. Maybe I'm in a hurry, he thought, but none of these guys should have to jump out of my way; it's their road too, I suppose.

Jack turned on his headlights as he realized that the overcast weather made it harder to see and be seen. The rain had just started, which made the roads even slicker, since all the oil had risen to the surface. I should take it a little easy, Jack thought. No way I want to play slip and slide today. He shuddered a little, remembering the accident he'd had about this time last year; the rain had been light, but his car had started hydroplaning anyway, and his car spun twice before hitting a light pole. Jack thanked his lucky stars again that only the car was damaged; a few hundred dollars in repairs was nothing compared to other people's safety, not to mention his own.