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EnCompass®
The AAA Companion |
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September | October 2004
Volume 78 Issue 5
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Member Feedback
Parents and
teen driving safety
It would seem that AAA and many drivers are trying to abdicate the responsibility of parents and turn the Colorado legislature into the parent-in-charge. It would be more effective, with immediate consequences, if parents would tell their teen drivers who is allowed in the car with them and, similarly, with whom they can go as passengers. Place the restrictions and enforcements where they should be... There are functions that state and federal governments are needed to do, and others that are the responsibility of the individual.
-Alan Harris, Centennial
Editor's Note: We have received numerous letters on the issue of teen driving safety. The vast majority are in favor of AAA Colorado taking an active lead in helping to develop legislation that would restrict teenage passengers in vehicles driven by teen drivers.
The above letter is representative of a handful of letters from members who object to government — and AAA's — involvement in this issue.
AAA Colorado agrees that the ultimate responsibility for safe driving among teens lies with parents and with teens themselves. Ideally, there would be no need for intervention by the state on this issue.
But the statistics tell us, and the news reminds us almost weekly, that a need does exist.
AAA has reviewed the statistics, examined studies on teen driving behavior and evaluated licensing systems that appear to be working in other states. For many years we have also provided and promoted tools (from AAA and through our safety partners) to help teens and to help parents prepare their teen drivers to drive safely and responsibly.
AAA Colorado will continue to provide and promote such tools to members and the general public — we believe, however, that it is not enough to limit our efforts to public awareness and education. And, as our poll and survey results demonstrate, AAA members overwhelmingly support measures at the legislative level.
For a buried horse,
he's looking pretty good
I enjoyed the article, "Guarding History and Tradition" (July/August 2004 issue) by Nancy Hoyt Belcher. In the article she states that the horse "Comanche" is buried at Fort Riley, Kansas. Comanche is actually stuffed and on display at the University of Kansas at Lawrence, Kansas.
-Richard Schott, Fort Collins
Editor's Note: Numerous members — and a AAA staff person, Everett Brailey — informed us of this error. Nancy Hoyt Belcher writes: "I'm furious. If you can't believe the 'official historian' at Fort Myer who can you believe? When I told him what your readers told you, he said, 'Wow, stuffed! That would be news to me.' Somehow, I find no comfort that I may have provided him with correct facts."
What are the odds?
Member Ann Stryker from Montrose called us after picking up the July/August issue. She was admiring the cover photo of San Francisco when she suddenly realized the person standing in the cable car facing the photographer was her son! He had no idea his picture had been taken.
"L" and "P" can help
The statistics you mentioned in EnCompass July/August about teenage driving are very sobering.
Passengers are one of the problems, but another problem is that other drivers are not always aware of the inexperienced teen drivers around them. In the United Kingdom, drivers that are learning to drive must have a sign on their car showing other drivers to be careful. It's called an "L" plate and is shown by a sign in the window with a large red "L" on a white background. For first-year drivers, that changes to a blue "P" on a white background.
This program would not cost the state since people in the UK just purchase the inexpensive signs from auto stores. Those caught without these signs are fined. This would be another way to help enforce the teenage passenger problem — other drivers and police would be more aware of the teenagers who are driving.
-Thea Leander
Editor's Note: Member Fran Mueller of Las Animas also wrote about this interesting concept, which is used in other countries as well. This fall, AAA Colorado will be passing on this suggestion, and many others, to state legislators.
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