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News & Views ARCHIVE,
5/2/08...Teen Driving Events
Hard to believe that we are at the beginning of the fifth month of the year, and here we are right in the middle of prom season for our high school students and within a few weeks it will be time for graduations and graduation parties. That's why a couple of events that took place this past week were most timely.
I had the opportunity to once again be part of the Tuscarawas County Safe Kids Coalition’s 14th Annual Teen Driving Roadeo at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds. This program brings teams of area high school students together to participate in events that test their knowledge on Ohio Driving Laws and proper procedures. Tests include what to do at intersections, railroad crossings, passing other cars, speed limits, and other rules of the road that we should all know and practice. Then the participants test their driving skills in cars loaned by the Parkway Auto Group through different driving scenarios like parallel parking right, parallel parking left, backing into a parking space, and making an abrupt lane change to avoid a hazard, along with other maneuverability tests. Additionally, they had to write essays on two topics: “Teen Driver Responsibility” and “Are Teens Driving Safer?” The Teen Driving Roadeo program is important because it focuses on one of the most important things that these kids will do, and that is handling a vehicle properly and respectfully, and recognizing that driving a car is a privilege not a right.
Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers. In 2005 an average of 12 teenagers died every day in motor vehicle crashes. Before you think that is because they were driving while intoxicated, it is interesting to note that most vehicle fatalities among teens were due to excessive speed, driver inattention, driving on the wrong side of the road, and then alcohol use. Basically it has been found that younger drivers just lack the experience on the roads to recognize risky situations. Driving with teen passengers while unsupervised is also a factor, and as the number of teen passengers goes up, so does the risk of a crash.
Schools that participated in the event were Tuscarawas Central Catholic, Claymont, Garaway, Indian Valley, New Philadelphia, Newcomerstown, Strasburg and Tuscarawas Valley. Each school had six students on their team. The driving skills events were handled by officers of the Dover and New Philadelphia, Police Departments, the Ohio Highway Patrol and the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's office. The participants also heard from representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Tuscarawas County coroner's office, and a mechanic from Humphries Auto City who talked about basic vehicle maintenance and how important it is to make sure the cars are safe to be on the road. The day is so valuable, it is too bad that all students of driving age can't participate in this program. Hopefully those who did will go back to their schools and discuss their experience with other students and get them to think of the benefits of being more skilled drivers.
A mock crash was held for Garaway students on Thursday afternoon to show them the tragic results of a deadly accident. Hopefully it was an eye opener for these younger drivers. A big thanks to the people who care enough to sponsor and put this yearly event together like: Lt. Eric Escola, Troopers Mike Maddock and Yvette Renicker of the Highway Patrol, Dover Police Chief Ron Johnson, New Philadelphia Police Chief Jeff Urban, School Representative Ron McConnell, Nancy Shaffer of the Tuscarawas-Carroll-Harrison Educational Services, Adam Bausch of AAA, Debbie Crank and Patti Maag of the Safe Kids Coalition, Barb Airgood of the OSU Extension, 4-H Carteens, and Ken Sopher of the Sopher Nationwide Insurance Agency of New Philadelphia who initiated the concept of the Teen Driving Roadeo fourteen years ago. All of these people are concerned about protecting your teen's health and safety when behind the wheel. However, never forget the important role you, the parents, play in keeping the kids safe. Whether it is your teen’s prom night, graduation night celebration or attending graduation parties, you play a key role in influencing your son or daughter's road safety behavior. As a parent you are in a unique position as a driving teacher, supervisor and role model. You make the rules about when, where, and with whom your teen can drive. Reinforce the messages of seatbelt usage and the risks of not exercising good judgment, following the rules of the road and certainly not to drink and drive. Let's develop skilled drivers that will lead to a long lifetime of safe and responsible driving.