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Tuesday, June 02, 2009 2:14 PM Teen drivers urged to make smart choices By Stephanie Creech | Times Senior Writer Eighteen-year-old Santiago Arroba has been driving for two years now. Thus far, he hasn't had a traffic accident. But Santiago, a Fike High School junior, realizes that as a teenage driver he has a higher risk of having a traffic accident than a more experienced driver. Santiago and his fellow juniors and seniors at Fike spent part of Tuesday listening to local law enforcement, firefighters, emergency workers and parents who have lost children in accidents, talk about making the right choices when it comes to driving. The program, which included an accident re-enactment in the school's parking lot, was called Vehicle Injury Prevention for a Very Important Person. The VIP program originated in Guilford County and has been presented in schools across the state. Wilson County Sheriff's Deputy J.S. Howard, president of the N.C. Association of School Resource Officers, said he heard about the VIP program at a training conference. As Fike's school resource officer, Howard wanted students to hear the message about choices and consequences as close to the end of the school year as possible. Howard pointed out three accidents involving teen drivers this spring. The latest accident happened in late May, when Robert Strickland III, 17, of Bailey, lost control of his pickup truck on Bloomery Road and was thrown from the vehicle. Robert survived the accident. But the outcome could have easily been different. The various speakers covered what it's like trying to save lives and what it's like to have to tell parents their child is dead. Officers also stressed that when they stop teen drivers it's not because they are after them but because they want to try to keep the young drivers from making bad decisions. Chris Fogg of the N.C. Highway Patrol said he'd rather give a teen driver a citation than have to tell their loved ones they've been killed in an accident. Speakers also stressed that while North Carolina has a graduated licensing system, parents need to set additional rules for young drivers. For example, Santiago said he had his driver's license for awhile before his mother would let him drive by himself. After listening to the speakers and watching several videos addressing driver safety and the long-lasting effects of traffic accidents on people's lives, Santiago said he is going to put away his telephone whenever he gets behind the wheel and he plans to stop playing with the radio while driving. Instead, Santiago said he'll just listen to it whenever a song he doesn't like comes on the radio. Santiago said he feels like a lot of the information went over most of the students' heads. But he hopes at least some of his fellow students, particularly his brother, got something out of the message. Santiago said his brother drives faster than he does. Seventeen-year-old Alexis Palmieri, a senior, isn't driving yet. But she will be as soon as her mother returns from overseas. Alexis described what she heard and saw Tuesday as a "wake-up call." Alexis said she wants to tell her friends about things they shouldn't do while driving. Alexis said she rides with friends and family members who get distracted while driving because they are text messaging, playing games or listening to music. Alexis said a lot of teens think nothing will happen to them. Alexis said she hopes her friends will think more now about what can happen. creech@wilsontimes.com | 265-7822 |
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RK Bulla Capt.HPFD said...
to the sophomres at Fike plans are to return to your schoool when you are seniors, so we don't miss any students. to the parents that would like this program at your childs school contact your principals and ask them to contact us at www.vipforavip.com
Thursday, June 04, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Don't they said...to the sophomres at Fike plans are to return to your schoool when you are seniors, so we don't miss any students. to the parents that would like this program at your childs school contact your principals and ask them to contact us at www.vipforavip.com
Thursday, June 04, 2009 at 4:13 PM
show those old blood and gore drunking driving crash movies in drivers ed anymore?
Thursday, June 04, 2009 at 1:49 PM
It is my understanding that plans are in the works to bring this to all three high schools next year. Maybe this was a trial run to see how it was received. Like the laptop computers that the Hunt students have had for years. The other two public high school students were not fortunate enough to get them.
Thursday, June 04, 2009 at 9:50 AM
this needs to be shown to juniors and seniors at hunt as well!
Wednesday, June 03, 2009 at 4:44 PM
I feel ALL High School students should see this. Kids these days have no clue the out come of speeding, drinking and driving, texting or talking on the phone while they are driving. Yeh it's nice to look cool but not in a casket.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009 at 10:05 AM
