Driving changes with school in session
Classes begin next week for most public schools in the area. Those who now are saying "but summer just began!" find me in total sympathy and agreement.
The most important message is a reminder to drivers and to students: when school is in session, traffic patterns change. There are more youngsters bicycling, walking, and skateboarding to and from school. They may be sleepy, or rushing because they're late or they want to get home, or talking with friends. They may figure that drivers will always see them, and think it's cool to cut across traffic.
As a former non-driver, I know I didn't realize how many distractions drivers had, or how powerful even the smallest vehicle is, until I started driving. My parents never hesitated to tell me that traffic was dangerous, but I just didn't realize it.
That's frustrating. Drivers can be careful, but pedestrians, cyclists, and skateboards have a responsibility, too.
There are beginning drivers, though I know high schoolers who are safer behind the wheel than some otherwise-responsible adults. Still, statistics show that teenage drivers, particularly if other teens are in the car, are at higher risk for accidents.
There's nothing wrong with limiting conversations while on the road. The driver has enough to think about. Don't assume everything is fine. Just because there hasn't been a train at the intersection the past 1,000 times you've driven through, doesn't mean one isn't approaching this time.
Make sure the headlights and taillights are clean. There's no point in having them if they don't show up brilliantly. Same goes for windows and windshields. I speak with experience. In high school, I once carved a tiny hole in the ice on the windshield and headed down the road, trusting the defroster to clear everything off. That was stupid. Only guardian angels prevented me from hitting more than a trash can.
I don't know how to emphasize upon youths the dangers of moving vehicles. I used to think car wreck photos and videos in newspapers made a difference, but I don't know anymore.
I think most responsible drivers have a "there but for the grace of God go I" attitude about driving. We can point to a vehicle turning unexpectedly or braking just in time to avoid a pedestrian. A glance the other direction and a tragedy occurs.
Accidents can't be avoided but we can reduce the chances of them occurring.
— MATT NEWHOUSE
