Summer brings teen distracted driving concern

Summer means more fun and driving opportunities for teens. But police caution that it’s also a time when teen drivers are more often distracted by electronic devices and teen passengers.

Officer Sheyna Marshall of the Fountain Police Department expands the definition of distracted driving to include racing and speeding. One of her children was killed and the other two injured in 2006 when a teen who was racing other teens, crashed into her vehicle in Maryland.

“It’s definitely close to my heart,” she said. “A lot of people think it will never happen to them. We didn’t think it would happen to us.”

Marshall said it’s difficult to enforce whether a teen is driving while distracted, unless the teen is obviously driving erratically or unsafely. She said a suspected teen receives a warning. However, authorities have no authority to seize a teen’s electronic device.”

Spencer Pace, an instructor at Master Drive driving school in Colorado Springs, said to limit the effect of having other kids in a vehicle, a teen under the age of 18 must wait six months after earning a license before being allowed to have other teen passengers.

“If the phone goes off, they’re going to look at it,” said Pace. “Texting is the big problem. It takes their eyes off the road. They just have to learn to silence the phone, put an automated response on it (before getting on the road) or leave it at home.”

Another Fountain police officer, Amanda Hajdik, said teen curfews can deter distracted driving among teens. She said throughout El Paso County, a year-round curfew exists that generally requires teens to be home between midnight and 6 a.m.

“There are exceptions, such as work, an emergency or when accompanied by a parent or adult guardian,” Hadjik said. “But there’s a very close connection to them (obeying the curfew) and not being on the road at night when they might become distracted.”

Police and Master Drive said that parents can be the strongest influence on teens driving safely.

“A parent has the right to revoke a child’s license up to age 18,” said Pace. “If a parent’s (child) causes a crash, it’s the family that’s responsible — and that can be a pretty big deal.”

“Most parents aren’t going to take their kids’ cellphones away,” said Marshall. “But parents can lead by example. Don’t wait until a tragedy happens, to get involved.”

For more information about distracted driving education, visit https://www.facebook.com/teamjustinmarshall