In conjunction with World Aids Day, ComCab, a taxi company in Aberdeen, England, began handing out condoms to late-night riders this week.  Recent studies linking binge-drinking and unprotected sex made late-night cab drivers an ideal avenue for condom distribution. 

Cool, right?  This plan seems pragmatic, efficient, and, well, convenient.  Imagine how much less unprotected sex would occur if drunken, carousing lovers were saved the trouble of going to a store or clinic to get condoms.  Sure, condoms in cabs could create some uncomfortable scenarios.  Imagine: it's a first date, the still-awkward couple is taking a cab home from a restaurant, and the cab driver offers them condoms?  AWKWARD.  But in the end, what's going to hurt more: a brief moment of discomfort or a growing HIV positive population?  I'll pick the former.

Let's take this a bit further, though.  I live in a medium-sized American college town.  Although most in my immediate community have no objection to condom distribution, taxis aren't in high demand.  As much as I love the idea, I don't know how much of a difference an effort like ComCab's would make here. 

So, as a high school student, I propose that condoms be made available in school based health centers.  To everyone.  For free.  At my school, reputedly the most liberal high school in one of the most liberal cities in a blue state, students can only get condoms from the health center if they've tested positive for an STI.  Yes, you read that correctly.  True, un-infected students can get free condoms at the nearby Planned Parenthood clinic.  But the distribution of condoms presents an ideal educational opportunity for schools.  Schools should practice what they preach by helping students follow through on what they've learned after teaching them about safer sex.  What message do students receive if they're told they must contract an STI before they are given the opportunity to protect themselves?  What happened to preventative tactics?  Shouldn't schools try to prevent disease, not just attempt to curb its spread?  Especially in the light of the HIV outbreak at Normandy High School this fall, schools nationwide should take a cue from ComCab and do their part to prevent HIV before it can get through the door.