Behind the wheel tips

Grace Fendrick
Features Editor

You hold the lives of others in your hands. That is the harsh reality that comes with being behind the wheel. The recent injuries and tragic deaths of Wake County students open a window to just how dangerous driving can be. Officer Jason Stone urges teen drivers to be extra cautious saying, “At this age you are supposed to be immature, no one expects you to be as mature as they do when you are an adult. But have maturity for this particular section of your life behind the wheel.”

Stone also said that the majority of the crashes he sees here at Apex are, “caused by inattention, confusion with right of way issues, and inexperience, as well as distractions.”
“I don’t like to throw around statistics but in the time it takes you to look down at a text for three seconds at 30 miles per hour, you can travel the length of a football field (120 yards). Picture your neighborhood streets and what could happen [in that time],” said Stone.

To promote safe driving visit CelebrateMyDrive.com to pledge to keep two hands on the wheel and two eyes one the road at all times.  

Below are some statistics and tips on how to become a safer driver.

Statistics:

• In 2011, approximately 2,650 teens in the United States aged 16–19 were killed in the U.S. That means that seven teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries.
• Seventy-nine percent of teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2012 were passenger vehicle occupants. This means the driver would have to cope with the fact that they were responsible for the death of the passenger, as well as the possibility of legal repercussions.
• More than 40 percent of teen auto deaths occur between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• Talking on a cell phone can double the likelihood of an accident as well as slow a young driver’s reaction time down to that of a 70-year-old. It is also against North Carolina law to be on the phone, including hands-free options, if you are under the age of 18.
• Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of death among teens in the U.S.
• The fatality rate for drivers age 16 to 19 is four times that of drivers’ age 25 to 69 years.
• The top three predictors for fatality are non-use of seat belts, teen drivers and roads with speed limits of 45 mph or higher.
• Current data on crashes involving 16-year-old drivers shows that having multiple teenage passengers in the vehicle is twice as likely to cause a fatal crash as alcohol-impaired driving.
• Crashes are more common among young drivers than any other age group. In the United States, 1 in 4 crash fatalities involve someone 16 to 24 years old, nearly twice as high as other age groups.

Tips:

• Wear a safety belt, and insist that all of your passengers do as well. It is the law.
• Driving only when you are alert and sober.
• Drive defensively and focus on the road. Even though you may be driving safely others may not.
• Limit distractions. This includes other passengers, phones, and music, to name a few.
• Never take unnecessary risks. It is better to show up to class late than not at all.