Thursday, July 30, 2009

Distractions Pose a Huge Threat to Teen Drivers

Car accidents remain the #1 killer of teens in the United States and studies have shown that teens that drive with other teens in the car heighten the risk of a crash.

A survey was conducted with 5000 high school students. This is the information they found:
  • 90% of teens said friends in car distracted the driver
  • 89% of teens said that friends used cell phones while they drove
  • 79% of teens said passengers and/or the driver danced and sang in the vehicle
  • 20% of 9th - 11th graders have been involved in at least one car crash within the last year


    Drunk driving campaigns have been effective in teens as most teen crashes are not alcohol related. Now we all need to drive home the fact that distraction is bigger than anything.
  • Wednesday, July 22, 2009

    Cost of Hit & Run

    Your teen has just gotten in their first accident backing up in a parking lot. Quickly they look around to see if anyone else had witnessed the accident and speed away.

    They've committed a hit and run.

    Little did they know, security cameras have caught the whole thing on tape and now they'll pay the price.

    In Washington State, the fine is $5000 and/or a year in jail plus restitution (payment to the victim of the crime for bodily injuries and/or damages) and court costs and fines.

    In addition, depending on the circumstances, there could be prison time, community service, court costs, attorney fees...

    In all, you and your teen could be looking at thousands and thousands of dollars.

    Friday, July 10, 2009

    Kids Club Carnival CANCELED

    Unfortunately, we've had to cancel the Kids Club Carnival this year. We are slated to do this next year with even more fun and games than we originally planned.

    Donations for Northwest Harvest are still encouraged (monetary and non-perishable food items) at all 6 of our locations. You can find our locations and directions by going to our site: www.sav-on.com.

    Thursday, July 9, 2009

    Teen Driver Kills Gentleman, Charged with Manslaughter

    16-year-old Brooklyn, New York resident Dervish Nivokazi, was charged recently with manslaughter after he killed 65-year-old Zak Stanislaw who was waiting at a bus stop.

    Police say that Nivokazi was speeding in a 2005 Mazda, hit a Toyota, and then slammed into Stanislaw who was pronounced dead minutes after the 9:20pm crash.

    Nivokazi had only a junior license (similar to Washington's intermediate license) which prohibits driving after 9pm. He was treated for minor injuries at Lutheran Hospital. The driver of the Toyota was not injured.

    According to Wiley Norvell of Transportation Alternatives, only 29 drivers in New York State have been charged with negligent homicide from 1994 to 2008 despite thousands of pedestrians and bicyclists that have been killed.