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Date published: 12/11/2007
Don't close your eyes to teen's driving habits
Do you know how your high school child drives? I am a concerned Stafford County school-bus driver, and I witness poor defensive driving skills every day. I travel U.S. 17 to Poplar Road, Kellogg Mill Road, and Ramoth Church Road to deliver my Colonial Forge High School students to school. Every day, I witness high school drivers racing by me on U.S. 17 to beat me to the Poplar Road traffic light so they won't get stuck behind me. Every day, I witness high school drivers getting stuck behind other buses, and they get very impatient. They swerve into the oncoming lane to see if they can get around our school buses, which are going the legal posted speed limit. Some Every day, those who decide they are going to stay behind the bus follow so closely it looks like they are in tow with the bus in front of them. These student drivers have no regard for safety for themselves, the busload of students in front of them, or the vehicles behind them. Parents, please talk to your children who have a driver's license and use these roads to get to school--or one day their lack of patience will result in an accident. This also goes for the parents who allow their children to ride with friends to school. Be aware of what goes on behind the wheel of the car your child is riding in. Kendra Triplett Stafford
I think our drivers need to understand that not only does driving incur a responsibility, it is also a privilege. It is not a right as a lot of people think. I am in favor of the civil remedial fees as it may cause the most egregious drivers to think about what they are doing. I also do not believe the drivers that are found guilty of driving under the influence should given the privilege of driving and that multiple DUIs should forfeit their driving privilege for the rest of their lives.
I too am a parent of teen drivers, but I also see more adults driving this way, some with kids in their car, then teens. If we want our teens to drive safely then we need to teach them by example. Every day I see a large number of cars who break the law by speeding, running stop signs and other traffic offenses. Our law enforcement officers can not do the job parents should be doing.
I have two teenage boys driving and a daughter coming up real soon. I can't be with them but can't stress enough to them to always take their time, drive carefully and wear their seatbelts. Kids learn their behavior so most likely they have watched their parents do the exact same thing. I try to remember this when they are in the car with me but I slip up sometimes. I make sure my son leaves home with plenty of time to get to school even if he gets behind molasses going up a hill in the winter.
Until we treat driving a car as the serious responsibility it is the carnage will continue. Intensive driver's training should be mandatory for anyone getting a license. It should be a state requirement with backing from the insurance companies, both of whom have much to gain if people drove more safely. Better drivers would save time by having more efficient traffic flow; save money by reducing the need for emergency and medical responses; and save lives. Parents, teach your children how to drive safely!
most parents do not know how their children drive because they are not with them. However bus drivers that witness this distructive driving have a real advantage and can report the incident along with a tag number to the police. Bus drivers have a better chance of law enforement taking action on their report then the lay persons. Also the tag numbers are recorded at the school as well you can go through the school to get word to the parents. The law states only two teens to one car. Bust them good luck.
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