On Sept. 6, a limousine holding 18 people crashed, killing all individuals inside along with two pedestrians. The crash places among the top deadliest motor vehicle crashes in America. In light of this event the topic of safe and distracted driving is prevalent now more than ever.

In 2016 there were 2,082 teen drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. 20% of those fatalities had alcohol as a factor and in 31% of those fatalities speeding was a factor. Alcohol and speeding are among the numerous factors that result in distracted student drivers, which then results in teen fatalities and crashes.

Pleasant Valley boys basketball coach, Steve Hillman, is also a driver education teacher at Geneseo High School. He stated, “Statistics say teens are at a greater risk to have a collision due to their lack of experience. When you add in addition risk factors such as alcohol or drugs, multiple peers in the car, lack of seatbelts, speeding, or cell phones the chances for an accident become much greater.”

A study by the Governors Highway Safety Association found that from 2000-2011, teens were involved in 19,447 speeding-related crashes. There is also evidence that teens’ speeding behavior increases over time, possibly as they gain confidence. Teens are more likely to underestimate dangerous situations. Speeding increases the likelihood of critical decision errors that lead to serious crashes.

Failure to wear a seatbelt is also a big factor in teen deaths and injuries in the event of an accident. By wearing seatbelts, 2,456 additional lives could have been saved in 2016. In the event of a crash seat belts secure passengers in the car, without that protection anyone can be ejected from the car which almost always results in a fatality. In 2016, a total of 818 teen drivers and 569 passengers died in accidents, and 58 percent of those passengers were not wearing their seat belts.

Alcohol and drugs are both huge influences in the safety and quality of teenage driving. Some studies have suggested that smoking in the car can be as dangerous as driving using a mobile phone. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the process of smoking in a car increased the crash risk by between 2-3 times. In 2016, almost one out of five teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking.

Recently retired Bettendorf Police officer, Warren Beine, believed that student drivers tend to get a bad rep but stressed the importance of knowing and following the rules of the road. “Obviously don’t use cell phones,” he first started, “and if there are any other kids in the car, they shouldn’t get in major conversations with [the driver].”

He added more ways students can be careful drivers, “You should keep their eyes up front and always keep a good distance between cars in front of you, always 2-3 seconds in distance. Always be aware of people around you. You might be the best driver in the world but there are people out there who aren’t very good so you’ve always got to be a defensive driver.”

He also offered different ways for parents to prepare their children to drive. When preparing his own daughter to drive he first took her to a parking lot and showed her the basics of adjusting mirrors and slamming on her breaks, and prepared her for what to do when emergency situations arrive. He then took her out in multiple different kinds of weather situations to prepare her how to deal with those added hazards.