the trojaneer 01.30.09 newsnewsnewsnewsnewsnewsnews
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All State Insurance encourages safe teen driving by Erica Stevens
All State is encouraging teens to be safer, more alert drivers through its 5 Point Action Plan. Driving is a big task that can have big consequences if taken lightly and performed recklessly. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers ages 16 to 19. The percentage of deaths among teens by car accidents exceeds that of both homicides and suicides. Though some teens may believe that driving is no big deal, in reality it is a huge responsibility. “Cars are powerful machines that can do damage,” Mike McGuire, a representative at All State Insurance, said. According to safeteendriving.org, the major causes of car crashes among teens are driver in-experience, risk-taking behavior (driving too fast, texting), high-risk situations (night driving, poor weather conditions), and alcohol and drug use. “One of the biggest mistakes teens make is inattention caused by other activities, such as cell phones, friends, and the radio,” McGuire said. Overconfidence can also be an issue. A few months or a few years of driving experience doesn’t mean that someone is an expert driver. In 2006, 12, 711 teenagers in the United States died from injuries sustained during automobile accidents. All State Insurance’s recent statistics confirm these unsettling facts. Thirteen percent of teenagers admitted to texting while driving (though this percentage may have increased), and 56 percent of teenagers admitted to answering or making phone calls while driving. An even more unsettling statistic is the 17 percent of teenagers who admitted that they
1. If your rear wheels start to skid:
•Take your foot off the accelerator •Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. (If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they’re sliding right, steer right) •If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control. •If you have standard brakes, start pumping them • If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.
2.
If your front wheels start to skid:
•Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don’t try to steer immediately. •As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.
think speeding is fun, and 55 percent who admitted to driving over ten miles per hour above the speed limit. Twenty-six percent of the teens who speed exceed 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. “Teens need to be more aware of what’s going on around them. They need to be focused on the goal of getting from one place to another,” McGuire said. Being prepared before getting behind the wheel is important, especially in winter months. In weather filled with snow and ice, teens need to know what to do in critical situations, and how to avoid them. All State offers information and advice for parents and their newlylicensed teenagers to prepare themselves to drive with safety and confidence. The saying “it’s better to be safe than sorry” is even more true when it comes to driving, so it’s time for teenagers to step up and learn how to be safe behind the wheel so that the startling statistics can disappear.
4. If you get stranded...
•Don’t leave your car unless you know exactly where you are. •If you are sure the car’s exhaust pipe is not blocked, run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes every hour or so depending upon the amount of gas in the tank. •To protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia use the woolen items and blankets to keep warm. •Keep at least one window open slightly. Heavy snow and ice can seal a car shut.
•Reflective triangles and brightly-colored cloth •Compass •First aid kit •Exterior windshield cleaner •Ice scraper and snow brush
3. If you get stuck...
•Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper. •Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way. •Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out. •Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car. •Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction. •Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner’s manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.)
•Working flashlight and extra batteries
Tips provided by teendriving. com For more tips and tricks, or more information about driving, visit teendriving. com!
•Wooden stick matches in a waterproof container •Scissors and string/cord •Non-perishable, high-energy foods •Blankets •Warm clothing