Rescue 4 Investigates Driver's Ed After Teen Crash

ClickonDetroit ^ | November 11, 2005

[ShadowDancer]

Defensive driving is absolutely crucial. It's the one component of driving my stepdad continuously pounded into my head.

[Right Wing Assault]

Some years ago around here a driver's ed car with 3 kids and a teacher were rear-ended at a stop light by a guy going 100. The first kid through the rear window broke his neck and died. The next kid through broke both legs. None of the passengers had seat belts on. Teacher survived and got in a BIT of trouble.

[DB]

So lets see, a 15 or 16 year old is driving a 6000 lbs+ Hummer to the snow with her best friend and no one else.

Does anyone else see a problem here?

[cripplecreek]

When I took drivers ed here in Michigan we had good instructors who taught us right. We were required to drive a stick shift, change tires, check fluid levels etc. We could even elect for a few extra classes in driving a pickup truck that included pulling a trailer. (we were a farming community)

There were very few of us who didn't already know how to drive.

[ShadowDancer]

Absolutely and I thought the same thing when it happened. No way would I let either of my kids do that at that age even in my Taurus.

[nuconvert]

"It's the one component of driving my stepdad continuously pounded into my head."

I was thinking along the same lines. My parents didn't expect a driver's ed class to teach me everything. They spent time in the car with me. Defensive driving instruction is a great idea, but my driver's ed classes didn't include them either. Parents need to assess whether their kids are ready for a license, and if they don't feel comfortable about it, get out in the car with your kid and give him/her more experience.

[PeteB570]

Ohio?????

I came of age in the far north. In the winter time everybody I knew played with their cars in large parking lots. Even my mom would gun the car and fishtail down the road when she turned a corner. It was considered fun and good training.

My girls will get their license in a few weeks but last winter here in NC every time it snowed I took them to a Wal-Mart parking lot and let them do donuts and fishtail around in our pickup.

How about a little blame on the parents who should have known how well/experienced their kid was - not the government.

[ShadowDancer]

I took it at the Y here but none of that was required. All my driving skills that really mattered were taught to me by my stepdad. I had to drive with him through a full winter, learn to drive a stick and learn to change the oil, spark plugs and tires before they even thought about letting me get past just my permit.

[stayathomemom]

That's one thing I remind my daughters about when they get behind the wheel in snowy weather, check to see what kind of breaks you have. Ice can be so awful to drive on. My sister was driving to working in her minivan and let up on the accelerator when it appeared that the road was slippery. The next thing she new she was crossing the road and heading toward somebody's front porch!. She missed a couple of trees by this much.

[HOTTIEBOY]

Absolutely.
People feel invinsible in those vehicles. I hate Hummers and all the arrogance and glutony they stand for.

And how do you teach exerience? And what if some kid gets in a car that doesn't have anti-lock brakes? Not all people can afford to place their little darlings in a $60,000 vehicle.

[FReepaholic]

...So lets see, a 15 or 16 year old is driving a 6000 lbs+ Hummer ...

That's the first thing I noticed in the article.

That's too much vehicle for a teenager.

Drivers ed here uses small compact cars and other sedans. A heavy Hummer has a much greater stopping distance and handles way differently than a car.

[JoeSixPack1]

WHoever handed a 15 year old the keys to a 6000lb Hummer needs a brain transplant.

[Moonman62]

If anything I think the Hummer gave the girls and their parents a false sense of security.

[cripplecreek]

Our teachers all lived locally and didn't want to share the roads with a bunch of inexperienced kids. Luckilly most of us could drive by the time we were 13 or so.

[Husker24]

"I was supposed to slam on the brakes instead of pumping them. That's what caused my car to spinout," said Passalacqua.

In my experiance you never want to slam on the brakes on a sheet of Ice, anti lock brakes or not. Brake gently and slowly steer out of it.

[tubebender]

No mention if the kid was wearing a seat belt?

[Cliff Dweller]

I don't think they exist, but they should...challenging driving courses for new drivers.

When I was learning to drive I drove on dirt roads in Georgia, and when they were wet, they were slip-sliding slaloms, (GA Clay).

New drivers should have a circuit with mud, water, pavement, etc. to learn how to handle loss of control properly, how excessive speed can contribute an accident, etc.

My son totaled his "new car" a 1988 Ford Crown Victoria when he hit black ice at 35 mph and slid off the road accross a culvert, which forcibly removed the left wheel assembly.

A demolition derby approach with "beaters" in a controlled environment witht he proper safety eqpt. would go a long ways to ensure we have a generation of safe/COMPETENT drivers.

[Vinnie]

"I was supposed to slam on the brakes instead of pumping them. That's what caused my car to spinout," said Passalacqua.

?? This is right out of the NC Highway patrol website

Avoid skidding in icy, rainy, or snowy conditions by gradually reducing speed. Start to move into second or high gear and slowly release the clutch (manual transmission) or use second gear (automatic transmission). Pump the brakes gently to slow the car down. It gives the tires more traction.

[Casloy]

I think it's been pretty much established that there is no correlation between Drivers Ed and accidents among teenagers. What causes most teenage accidents is hormones.

[New Perspective]

Unfortunate circumstances. She was inexperienced, and who's fault is that? Hers and her parents, no one else. She should not of been driving that large a vehicle with her lack of training. The parents need to take some responsibility.

I do have to commend her on taking the blame and stepping up to the plate. She has pointed the finger at a lack of defensive driving courses, but she did not blame anyone else. This quality is few and far between in todays generation.