What is going on with Marian Central drivers that seven students die in traffic accidents in seven years? What is the quality of the school’s driver education program? Is there one, or do students learn to drive through private driving schools or parental instruction?
This problem, of course, is not restricted to Marian Central. The problem is state-wide, nation-wide, with young drivers believing they are bulletproof when they get behind the wheel.
Now, some kids think they are Richard Petty and set out to prove it. Tires squealing, loud mufflers, muscle cars, dropped chassis, real stand-out cars. Other drivers believe that they can handle any driving situation that comes up. Others just don’t think ahead to what they would do “if”…
Pilots get training in emergency flying situations: loss of engine, radio out, other mechanical failure. What do beginning drivers get? A few minutes on “this is how long it takes you to stop at certain speeds” and “turn your wheels into the skid.”
How many student drivers are put behind the wheel on a closed course with a skid pan? How many student drivers are put behind the wheel and then find the brakes don’t work or they lose the power steering?
The biggest emergency for too many students and new drivers is, where did my cell phone go when I dropped it? Or will my slacks be stained by the ketchup from the burger?
Students and all drivers, including those who have driven for 5-10-20 years and the elderly, should be re-evaluated periodically for driving experience, habits and attitudes. Today it is possible to get a driver’s license and never take another driving test. A driver can speed, run stop signs, even get some tickets and avoid driving re-testing because of good luck or Court Supervision, which is really no supervision at all.
Driving a car is dangerous, but it doesn’t need to be excessively dangerous. Drivers should avoid distractions and not get into lengthy, agitated cell phone conversations or use handheld cell phones. Drivers should avoid those windshield-mounted GPSs. They happen to be illegally-mounted, but has anyone even been stopped and ticketed for one? Ha-ha!
Of course, if you have beads dangling from your mirror and you’re from Harvard, you can plan on getting stopped and being on the receiving end of a $75.00 ticket for driver’s view obstruction.
If the police ticketed more drivers for vehicle infractions (illegally-darkened front windows, including windshield; no front license plates on those big Cadillacs, BMWs, Mercedes, Corvettes, etc.; tinted license plate covers), then drivers would realize that the police are watching.
I was accused by one reader of the Northwest Herald of “…being a person feels that everyone should follow the law.” Well, there’s plenty of evidence for me to be convicted of that, so I’ll just plead Guilty right now.
If more drivers operated their vehicles with a sense of self-preservation, maybe the fatality rate among young, and all, drivers would begin to drop. I hope so.
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2 comments:
For me, the biggest problem with Marian students is the long distance & busy roads that they encounter daily - parents have turned these very inexperienced drivers into daily cross-county commuters. I wish that after the death of the Scholnick boys, Marian had eliminated student parking - their students just have to drive too far to be safe.
Gus-- numerous studies have shown that hands-off cell phones are not a bit safer to use while driving that hands-on phones.
I remember seeing a "Mythbusters" program about a year ago where they investigated the "myth" that talking on a cell phone while driving was comparable to driving at the legal limit for DUI. Turned out that it wasn't. DUI was significantly safer.
I avoided being hit twice in the last 24 hours by assuming that cell phone-using drivers would (1) ignore the stop sign and (2) make a left turn despite oncoming traffic. I assumed right in both cases.
I shouldn't have to. I am tired of it.
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