THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 30, 1994 TAG: 9409290055
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAMELA BROWN HIGH SCHOOL, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
THE WIND IN YOUR hair, the sun at your back and the miles rolling by on the odometer. The dream of driving represents the ultimate in freedom from parental rule.
The dream can turn into a nightmare. Poor driving skills and risky behavior threaten not only teen drivers, but anyone on the road with them.
Jill T. Parker, an instructor at the Hampton Roads Driving School in Virginia Beach, said the biggest problems teenagers face come from lack of experience.
``They also tend to assume that other drivers will know how to react to them,'' Parker said.
Parker, who has been teaching young drivers for six years, said in addition to teaching skills such as parallel parking, instructors warn about the risks and dangers involved with speeding and drunken driving.
Amy Morgan, 18, a 1994 Western Branch graduate and former president of the school's Students Against Drunk Driving chapter, doesn't need warnings. She's been with an out-of-control driver.
``I closed my eyes, and held on to the seat and prayed,'' said Amy, recalling a time that she rode with a speeding friend.
According to Parker, lessons on the dangers of speeding are a regular part of the driver's education course. She provides the deadly statistics and shows films illustrating what can go wrong. Most area driving schools offer programs tailored to teenage drivers.
``Many young drivers don't know that they can be ticketed with a learner's permit,'' Parker said. And a ticket with a learner's permit carries the same weight as one given to a licensed driver.
But even with the threat of a ticket, it is not uncommon for teenagers to play dangerous games with speed. Tragic traffic deaths are more common than many teens realize.
This year between April 1 and Aug. 31, 10 area teens died in traffic accidents when teenagers were the drivers. In the span of two months, from mid-April to mid-June, three teens were killed in two accidents on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach. In both cases, a teenager was at the wheel.
In two fatal accidents on International Parkway near Lynnhaven Mall this year, both drivers were traveling much faster than the posted speed limit, both lost control of their vehicles and neither had more than one year of driving experience.
The chances for accidents greatly increase when alcohol and drugs are part of the problem. In fact, drunken driving is the leading cause of death among American teenagers, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
But steering clear of drugs or alcohol doesn't guarantee that you will not be in an accident. Minor accidents can be more damaging to your psyche than to your car.
``Call my mama, I want my mama, call my mama,'' was all Shani Beamon, 17, a Western Branch senior, could say after her first accident. ``I was crying and I couldn't talk to the police officer. I never wanted to drive again.''
Accidents are not a problem, however, if you are still trying to get out of driver's education class. Nina Bautista, 17, a 1994 Tallwood High graduate, said she had problems with the driver's education program in her school.
``Public schools expected too much,'' said Nina, who flunked driver's ed and had to go to a private driving school. And since she didn't get to practice much with the family car, ``I didn't learn as fast,'' she said.
Nina also ran into problems her first day on the road with a driver's education teacher. It was raining, and Nina took a dip too fast.
``The teacher wasn't very patient,'' Nina said. ``He was joking when I was already nervous.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Pamela Brown is a senior at Western Branch.
by CNB