Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 2009, Page 125

Description:	taking the wheelSouth students share their experiences as they hit the road for the very first time.All-Star Driving Schoostudents work both in theclassroom and in the driversseat to learn the rules of theroad. South students showeda typical day at Drivers Ed.Frehsman Meredith WrightFreshmen Nicole Dahlstrom, SaraSylvester, Meredith Wright, andEmily LuteFrehsmen Nicole Dahlstrom andSara SylvesterStop Your Flaws and Follow the LawsIn 2008 there were many changes todriving laws that affected teens. Textingwhile driving was oudawed in Monroecounty, and a new state law would gointo effect in 2010 requiring teens to be15-and-a-half years old before receivingtheir permits and 16-and-a-half beforereceiving their licenses. The state lawalso required teen drivers log 50 hours(10 of which were at night) before getting a license. Finally, the new statelaw banned the use of cell phoneswhile driving for people under 18.Bloomington Police Officer LucasTate offered a rationale for the newlaws, Once a wreck has happened,theres no going back. If there was oneway to stop texting and driving I would,but theres not. Accidents caused bydrivers distracted by cell phones hadbecome so common Officer Tate saida new category had to be added toBPDs accident report form.He also stressed sometimes the outcomes can be devastating. For example, Officer Tate once worked an accident that involved a teen driver whostruck a tree while driving and texting.The teens parent was killed in the accident. The intent of the new laws wasto protect young drivers from deadlyoutcomes like the one Tate described.After all, many Bloomington Southstudents admitted to texting while driving, and students often minimized therisks involved. Junior Ashlie Webster admitted to texting while drivingbecause its not that hard, its not likeIll get in a wreck. Im super careful.Some even did it as a rebellion,junior Jennifer Pillans said, Themain reason I text and drive is becausethey tell us not to.Other teen drivers said doing boththings at once was just too difficult. Junior Amir Torabi was one of these,I drive a manual, Torabi said, whichmade it difficult to do both.Detective Jeff Canada of the BPDhad two boys that attended South, onewas a licensed driver and one who wasjust receiving his permit. Jordan is 21so he has more experience in both texting and driving; where as Jacob (15)wont be allowed to touch his phonewhile driving. Canada also said, Idont think it should necessarily be illegal because it all depends on the person and their multi-tasking skills.-STEPHANIE KESELICHdriving \| STUDENT LIFE \| 125
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/8147
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

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