Crime & Safety

Cop Talks Teen Driver Safety

Suffolk County is offering a class on teen driver safety this wek.

"Unfortunately," Det./ Lt. Robert Donohue of the Suffolk County Police Department, said "Suffolk County holds the records for the most driving fatalities in the state. "

Most of those fatalities, he said, involve teens.

"We are at the top of the scale," said Donohue, who is urging parents to not only keep tabs on their teens driving habits, but to also talk to them about driving safely.

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As a parent of a teenager himself, Donohue says he takes several steps to help ensure the safety of his 17-year-old daughter.

"I tell her that I better not catch her texting or talking on her cell phone," said Donohue, who says that cell phone use in the car has become a serious problem in Suffolk in recent years.

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"There are many accidents that are contributed to distracted driving," said Donahue, indicating that texting and cell phone talking isn't the only issue when it comes to teens and driving. Distracted driving is another critical issue.

Aside from the obvious drinking and driving and wearing seat belts, Donahue says he talks to his teen about eating in the car, using the radio and, he said, he also keeps tabs on how many friends are in her car.

"We need to impress on our kids how dangerous it is to drive while distracted," he said, pointing out that if distracted, any driver won't have time to think of an action plan if another car is coming at them head-on.

"You need to be aware of the situation and have an escape route, whether it be driving onto the shoulder or into the woods. Being aware of the potential of a head-on situation is half the battle," sid Donahue.

Aside from urging parents to talk to their teens, Donahue is asking parents to enroll their teens in a free teen driver safety class that is being offered this week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the Suffolk County Police Training Center  at 110 Old County Rd. Westhampton.

There are two, two-and-a-half hour sessions available each day, one at 9 a.m. and the other at 1:30 p.m. To register, call 631-852-6109.


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