Teens and Car Accidents When Is Enough, Enough? the Truth About Seatbelts By: Drew Bruning Staff Writer Be Careful out There
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HE ISION T VWindsor High School November 2007 Volume 11, Issue 2 Teens and Car Accidents When is enough, enough? The truth about seatbelts by: Drew Bruning staff writer Be careful out there. The number one killer of teens isn’t some psychopath. It’s the lack of safety belts teens wear. Male high school students are more likely to not wear seat belts compared to female stu- dents. In addition, teens have the highest fatality rate amongst all of the age groups. In 2004, 7,898 teen drivers were killed in fatal car crashes. When you do not wear your seat belt, you increase your chances of being ejected from the vehicle. Non-belted occupants are four times more likely to die if they are thrown from the car than if they remained inside. In 2005, 55 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes were not wearing seat belts. Seat belt use, reinforced photo contributed by Hannah Suire by effective safety belt laws, is a proven Senior Hannah Suire completely totaled her 2001Cougar after falling asleep at the wheel on I-55. lifesaver. All states except one have seat Firefighters and police assisted Suire at the scene of accident. The Jaws of Life were used to eject belt use laws, but only 25 states, including Hannah from her demolished car. Illinois, and the District of Columbia have primary enforcement of their belt laws. In states with primary enforcement, law in a car accident. Senior Hannah Suire was in by: Tori Sanders officers may ticket a non-belt user when a serious accident on Jan. 14. Her accident co-editor-in-chief they see a violation of the seat belt law. was very much like Henson’s. She also fell With secondary enforcement laws, officers After a night with her boyfriend Junior asleep at the wheel and was driving on I-55. may issue a citation only after stopping the “I just Linda Henson headed home. While driving Just like Henson, the memory of that night vehicle for another traffic infraction. on I-55, she fell asleep at the wheel. Waking is a little blurry. Both teens were sober and remember up to the sound of gravel, she swerved the driving the speed limit. The causes were pure wheel sending her straight into the guardrail. exhaustion. Suire said, “All I remember is much as teens do not like to admit it, they are waking up on The momentum flung Henson out of her waking up to a yellow glow, which was most not as experienced as those who have been seat belt, through the driver side window, likely the car I hit. I woke up, freaking out, driving for 15 or 20 years. the side of and onto the gravel that, initially, woke her realizing what had happened.” Drinking and driving can lead to deadly up. Henson said, “I don’t remember any of A couple pulled over to assist Suire. They consequences. Not to mention getting pulled the highway it. I just remember waking up on the side of called an ambulance and stood by her until over while being drunk will lead to a DUI or the highway extremely bloody and screaming it came. The Jaws of Life were used to eject DWI. The cost of these tickets is not cheap. extremely for help.” Suire from her car. Henson and Suire’s cars There are court costs, lawyer fees, not to Teens are more likely than any age group were both totaled and they suffered severe mention the community service and other bloody, to be in a car accident. Fifty percent of all injuries. fees that come with the ticket. The total in fatal car accidents involve alcohol and drugs Another cause of accidents is the inex- the end is around $1,000. screaming and over 80 percent of all car accidents can perience of young drivers. Teenagers are more Teen car accidents are too frequent and be linked to driver errors. Teenagers are also prone to accidents, especially on highways seem to be taken lighter, which should not be for help.” much more likely to ignore basic safety rules and other places with considerably more the case. Not only do we hear about someone -Junior Linda Henson concerning speeding or seat belts (see side traffic. Backing up in the driveways, park- from Windsor involved in a car accident at bar). ing, and reversing are other difficult driving least once a month but also they always seem Everyone knows someone who has been techniques that often lead to accidents. As to get worse. Senior Rachel West Continuted on page 2 Bashing in the Windsor auditorium CALENDAR by: Tiffany Maness The Deficit, and This Hollywood Machine. The Art Club students and teachers look OF EVENTS Bands that have played at previous bashes forward to this show every year and hope staff writer November 13 include Dick Ford, The Deficit, Runnerup, everyone will come and enjoy the amazing -Fall sports banquet If having a good time is on top of your The Masada Complex, Pass the Burden, environment that the Bash presents. to-do list, then you should probably think Breedlove, Playing with Matches, and Failure Previews of what you are going to hear about going to the Bash on Friday, Nov. 9. for Friends. The Bash has had seven previous at this year’s Bash, as well as previous bands, November 16 It costs a mere $7 per ticket. occurrences. can be found on MySpace.com. -Teacher talent show This concert is to help raise money for the The Bash will be held in the high school If you are interested in going but not Art Club. Mrs. Laura Ward, the art teacher, auditorium. The doors open at 6 p.m., and sure if it’s your scene, you can ask Art Club November 21-25 said that the concert is run completely by the it actually begins at 6:30 p.m. ending at ap- students, art teachers, or anyone who went students. Also, Ward said that it is bigger proximately 10 p.m. to he Bash last year. -Thanksgiving break every year; there are better bands, and a lot Senior Sam Brda, who is also the president Tickets will be available for purchase more people. of Art Club, said, “It’s going to be different, at the door for $7 as well as before the December 8-9 This year’s Bash includes performances still successful, and we’re going to rock out concert for $5. -Christmas at Windsor castle by The Donnie Brasco Fiasco, Saber Line, hardcore!” November 2007 INDEPTH [email protected] 2 THE VISION-ISSUE 2 Trunk-or-Treat All-state choir auditions held Yearbook and Newspaper offer a safe Students compete for alternative to traditional trick-or-treating one of four positions tons of creepy songs. There was even a by: Brittany Shoemaker by: Liz Oliver staff writer Halloween costume contest for ages 0-7, staff writer 8-12, and 13+. Remember when Halloween was all Sam Lagerman, business manager of Choir’s biggest auditions hap- about getting the biggest amount of candy the yearbook staff, said “I think we had pened on Nov. 3 at Hillsboro High and having the best costume? Whether, a very good turn out. We had double School. Six students from Windsor Halloween is about being scary, funny, the people we thought would come and had the opportunity to audition for or being the princess you always wanted everyone seemed to pull it together. I one of four spots for all-state choir. to be, it’s a night that all little kids will think everyone had a blast, and I can’t Ms. Sarah Faulkner, choir director, remember. wait to do it again next year!” has high hopes and anticipates great The yearbook and newspaper staffs Trunk-or-treating was a fun and safe things from all six of her students. hosted trunk-or-treating in the high school way for kids, teenagers, and adults alike Junior Tim Ford, who was selected parking lot on Friday, Oct. 26 from 6 to have fun. photo by Jennifer Tremmel to audition, said, “This is my first year in choir, so that is a big step. It kind to 9:30 p.m. Students and community ABOVE Young children members paid $10 to set up a car in the of freaks me out.” participate in bobbing parking lot decorated in the Halloween The six students include sopranos for apples, one of the spirit and trunk-or-treat at all the other Rachel Honz and Kala Zurbriggen cars. numerous activities along with tenors Ben Neiwerner, Mrs. JoAnn Marty, yearbook sponsor, available at the trunk-or- Alex Fisher, Tim Ford, and James said, “I think it was really successful--not treating event. Cook. All six were thought to be in the top 20 of their sections. This is only did the little kids have fun, but the LEFT A fun Flinstone big kids did, too.” how they were selected to audition for themed car with a hint There were also plenty of other activi- All-State Choir. All-District Choir is of Halloween spookiness ties including face painting, bobbing for going to be held Nov. 17 at Hillsboro apples, a haunted duck pond, pumpkin is one of the many trunks High School. This is where they will masks, make your own Halloween pup- set up to provide kids with announce the members of all-state pet, pumpkin penny pitch, decorate your an authentic Halloween Choir. experience. own cupcake, and DJ Dracula performed photo by Andy Repple Potential blood donors must meet Teens and car accidents criteria to donate Continuted from Page 1 my eye, not to mention my car was also involved in an accident.