Bingham High students learn to be attentive drivers

Students at Bingham High School pledged to refrain from texting while driving, experienced a DUI simulation, and were reminded of seatbelt safety at a kickoff event for National Teen Driver Safety Week held Oct. 17. Walking a straight line proved challenging for some students, as they attempted to complete a mock sobriety field test while wearing “drunk goggles.”

Kelli Huish, a student who tried the goggles, said she would never want to drive drunk. “It’s like it’s all spinning. It tilts the room,” she said.

“We not only want to teach the kids to drive safe, wear seat belts, don’t be distracted, and turn off cell phones; but we also want parents to get involved,” South Jordan Police Department Det. Sam Winkler said. “We want parents to talk to kids about safe driving habits.”

At the event, students voluntarily signed a banner pledging to never text while driving. Those who signed were entered in a drawing and some won T-shirts or backpacks. Alisha Edmunds, a Bingham High student and South Jordan Police Department intern, helped organize the event. She interns for an hour and a half during fourth period every other day, and is learning what it’s like to be a police officer.

“Teaching teenagers not to text and drive is so important, because it is more dangerous than drunk driving,” she said.

National Teen Driver Safety Week was established by Congress in 2007, and is held annually the third week of October. Utah Department of Public Safety statistics show that teenage drivers represent 7 percent of all licensed drivers in Utah, yet they are involved in 22 percent of all motor vehicle crashes.

By bringing attention to issues related to teenage driving, sponsors hope to reduce the occurrence of crashes, injuries, fatalities and violations committed by teenage drivers. The event was sponsored by the South Jordan City Police Department, the Utah Department of Public Safety, Salt Lake Valley Health Department and Bingham High School.