Curbing the Urge to Speed or Leave School All At Once as Teens...and More

From the Great Barrington Community Forum, concerns and ideas about making the intersection near the high school and middle school on Route 7 safer was being discussed. I added a few points but overall people were feeling 'nothing will be done affordably or soon or be enforceable..."New flashing lights will be added so that will be a help.

So I offered the following which could pertain to Every High School in America where teens are driving...I know that's a Big Ask or Suggestion, but even if it curtails 'close calls, accidents and even one fatality, it'd be worth it!'

Remember on busy roads like Route 7 there may be large trucks that cannot stop on a dime, and many pick ups that also tend to barrel along and may not have a great site line (I heard of someone who was struck and the driver only stopped because someone else saw it and blared their horn. The man survived and is doing well, thank goodness.) Other kids and even adults may play it too close to walking in roads or not be aware of traffic when running (even on a team with some leading but each needing to judge for themselves every time, looking both ways a couple of times and not taking chances thinking drivers will slow down for them.

Never should someone grab someone's hand and 'run for it' if there is no need for that. I know a couple of people, one visiting their teen from another country, that almost got nailed by an SUV at a large event in the center of Salisbury because the pedestrians didn't realize traffic did not stop readily even though one car had. Thankfully someone was there to alert them with a prompt, "Stop, Get Back!!' And they listened and did just that, not knowing why the person behind them yelled at them. That was a Mom and daughter from China, so maybe that culture is more tuned into that sense of looking out for each other is my guess.

When crossing a road it sometimes is necessary to stop in the middle 'all of the sudden' but country kids may not know that, so maybe more games could be played to act out such situations. Also when getting out a car, a person or youth especially could be taught to 'walk away from the car' and turn their back to let the driver know they will not be crossing in front of the car, especially a van. I share more on my blog about these kinds of situations, but there could be a dozen such reminders and again more games to help people be 'at the ready' and plan to walk their child to a door or make certain they get in a door not just to it since it may be too heavy or not open for whatever reason. The child then may run in front of the car (or van) and appear at the driver's window and if the driver was distracted by another child in the back, be clueless what transpired. Thankfully that situation (in the pouring rain one morning when going to a camp program in Sharon which now has a rule that parents need to sign their child in and out etc as far as I know which is a great way to help people be accountable, but again important from the parking lot to the place even at a gas station where cars may be driving through a lane. Some parents let kids be fairly independent even at young ages but holding hands is a safer bet in such settings and crossing roads.) 

One game to play for fun and to actually do more even as people get older with some situations added such as being in heavy traffic, rain, time to pass or time to pull over etc like 'musical chairs' but with one person 'driving' another around as though that person were a car, so just directing them by the shoulders. That can be done with the person having their eyes open for a while...and then having the car person 'close eyes' and let the other person drive them, with other pairs of people and objects to navigate around. Then it's good to change roles and be aware of how that feels to do each.

One person wondered if it's fair to ask women to get to school early and leave later...and here's my response I shared...

Women would be allowed and encouraged to 'get to school or event early' if it's allowed or meet at a nearby location, such as in the town of Falls Village at the Cafe or at Mountainside Cafe on Rt 7 or maybe another venue (TBD) about a mile from the high school for instance. Parents could do the same to provide some supervision and snacks even.

Finding ways for kids, parents and others to network to do better in school and get to know each town and even take outings would be some of the reasons as well to make extra time.

Libraries such as in Falls Village are seeking input as to how they can help meet basic needs so that might be another venue to explore. Perhaps faith groups and other non-profits like Center on Main in FV) would also fill a niche especially in nicer weather months. Those are examples of Smallville and GB isn't that much bigger as a school. There could be more networking for many as well in the tri-corner area.

Maybe it'd be a half hour early and an hour or two after school for kids who don't have other programs to go to. So the driving is only part of the issue. Finding ways to help kids feel valued, skilled and included is the bigger issue to help people choose to be more responsible and aware of their role in the community.

Someone told me they were passed by five guys and that was only a mile from our local high school. In general, I think women are happy to enjoy the journey with music and talking and have a bit more common sense and awareness of whose on the road with them than males who are either not aware or don't care or feel they need to keep up.

That's not all thankfully, but in terms of whose speeding and passing it's often a fellow. It's brave of me to point out some of these basics but it took a while for it to dawn on me...and I'm hoping to save a few lives especially in our local area of the tri-corner area where people are nurtured like family and friends usually but then 'something happens' and many youth seem to have a problem with their personal GPS and it's anyone's guess what can help them 'stay on the road' and do well in life. I'm hoping more team efforts can guide more to make reasonable fair choices...and actually follow laws, agreements and voluntary guidelines.

So it's a little like doing a 'flash mob dance' only with cars in terms of choreography (I know this could go in many ridiculous ways, but there's already places for race cars and carry on legally... so hope more don't need to practice and risk their lives and others in the process.) I basically don't think it's a great idea to have young drivers on the road alone...that would mean having more learn to drive a bit later or get a license midway through college as 'the norm'...and not really drive much on their own in terms of long trips for a couple years even after that until it's clear they have the skills and lifestyles that can handle that safely for all involved. I share lots more on my blog but 'at least we're almost scratching the surface'.

Thanks for your responses and honest opinions. Keep in mind that there are many more cars on these same small roads, with many on meds or drugs and an aging population with no regular 'check ups for their driving skills' and lots more to consider in terms of people being sleepy after work or even late afternoon having low blood sugar or being out late and 'having a few'. There are no real designated drivers regularly for people so maybe some of the brave drivers could give rides to those folks...whatever it takes to curb the trend toward high risk, fast-paced driving. We're not in the wild West...and we do have bears, deer and moose on the loose!