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IN-DEPTH
Echo Wednesday, September 27, 2017
There’s lots of things that can distract you and that really confusing, so it’s good to pay attention. Victoria Judson, senior
Losing focus at the wh Distracted driving brought home Atticus Raasch & Alex Balfour atticusraasch@slpecho.com alexbalfour@slpecho.com
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yes set on the road, senior Katie Fredrickson can’t see why students would choose to focus on their phones while driving. “Everyone goes on their phone. I’m in the car with people all the time and they’re on their phones while driving. I don’t want anyone that I care about to not come home,” Fredrickson said. According to the Hennepin County police report Officer William Mathews, a Wayzata police officer, was struck and killed by a distracted driver Sept. 8, while clearing debris from U.S. Highway 12. Officer Mathews was reported to have been walking back to his car when a Nissan Murano hit him while traveling 55 to 65 miles per hour. The driver, Beth Freeman, allegedly was using her phone moments before the accident. Officer Mathews was married to Shawn Mathews, assistant athletic director and had a 7-year-old son, Wyatt. Following the death of Officer Mathews, Fredrickson said she created a petition to aid in passing a piece of legislature to further the legal punishment for distracted driving.
What is distracted driving
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AA driving instructor Mike Torkelson said distracted driving stems obsessions with phones. “The (distracted driving) problem comes with the fact that so many people are constantly on our phones,” Torkelson said. “We have them with us and it can get to the point where it just becomes an extension of ourselves.” According to police liaison Pam Gronski, personal interactions and phone use are the leading causes of teen car accidents. “The most common forms of distraction leading up to a crash by a teen driver are actually interacting with other people in the car,” Gronski said. “That is the most, quickly followed by cell phones.” Gronski said students are in such a hurry that they often neglect personal safety.
“A lot of kids point A to point practice,’ ‘I have to my job,’; they they’re going,” G ers) don’t tend to they might be ea or texting their f or ‘I’m on my wa much more activ
Connectio
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redrickson sa ing. “(The bill) puts e said. “It also add Senior Kate B while driving, esp “I think (the p your mind that y your phone is a w tempted, I go bac Junior Bryan “Pretty much eve and changing the According to while on the road “I know that new technologica son said.
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If they’re so addicted to their phones just put it in the back seat.
IN-DEPTH
Echo Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Darjon Johnson, sophomore
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s are in a rush from B, ‘I have to get to e to dance,’ ‘I have to get y have to get to wherever Gronski said. “(Teenago be planners as much so ating while they’re driving friends ‘I’m running late’ ay.’ I just think that they’re lives are so ve and again they are young and carefree.”
on to Park
aid the petition works to further a bill designed to limit distracted driv-
extreme restrictions on using your cell phone while driving,” Fredrickson ds fines and basically gives more punishment for using your phone while driving.” Brinkman said the petition reminds her of the reason behind staying off her phone pecially when temptations are high. petition is) a really good idea. I think it is really easy to just have it in the back of you’re not supposed to be on your phone, but to go out of your way to not be on whole new step,” Brinkman said. “I committed myself to that (petition). If I’m ever ck to that signature.” Huynh said he notices students on their phones on a daily basis. ery day I go home from school there are people driving around in the parking lot eir music,” Huynh said. “I mean they aren’t going very fast but they do it. Torkelson, the younger generation of drivers is more susceptible to distractions d. statistically the younger generations are far more comfortable in using all of these al innovations and everything that comes along with having a cell phone,” Torkel-
Holding each other accountable
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orkelson said all passengers in a car should share the responsibility to create a safe driving environment. “One of the first things is just to hold each other accountable. If you are riding in a car and the driver is on their phone, don’t be afraid to say something about it. I think that is really important,” Torkelson said. “Sometimes the passenger can help out with navigating or opening up the GPS.” Torkelson said he believes this generation can make a large impact in bringing awareness to distracted driving. “I can remember in the eighties there was a huge understanding about the damage of drunk driving,” Torkelson said. “I am hoping this generation right now can do the same thing with using the phone while driving. This generation I know can do it.”
Students can sign the petition by searching ‘initate hands free driving in Minnesota’ on change.org. As of Sept. 25 the petition has 2,531 signatures. Source Katie Fredrickson
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teenage crashes are because of distracted drivin g nationally.
90 80 70
drivers Percentage of
Distracted drivin g leads to around
5,000
60 50 40 30 20 10 0
deaths a year nationally.
16-18
Infographic Isabe
Source AAA
Percent of indiv iduals using phones while d riving
l Leviton
19-24
40-59
Ages of dri
vers
60-74
75+
Infographic Hann a Schechter Source AAA
Photo Illustration Hanna Schechter