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When we talk about distracted driving we immediately leap to cell phones and more specifically texting.   While I won't underestimate the distraction that cell phones have become, there are many other distractions that are dangerous, particularly for a novice driver.  The #1 distraction is other teenagers or in other words, their friends.  The statistics and crash facts are clear.  A particularly alarming statistic is that the likelihood of a novice driver being involved in a fatal car crash increases by 50% when there is one additional teenager in their vehicle, continue to add teenagers to the equation and the probability increases.   Yet, parents rarely take heed and often allow their teenagers to drive with newly licensed teenagers.  Why -  it's easier, it certainly is less hassle and you don't have to get into the "all my friends drive with their friends in the car.  I don't see what the big deal is"  conversation.  You also don't have to take them or pick them up from all those places they need to get to, so why not let them drive with their friends?   

 

It is our recommendation to have 0 passengers for the first year of driving.  I get that that is not easy to do.  It is by far, the safest for your teenager because it gives them a year to continue to develop their skills.  The numbers don't decrease after a year but if your teenager has shown good judgement and hasn't had any incidents - tickets or collisions, then consider rewarding them with the ability to drive with a friend in the car with rules attached. 

 

In our classroom we ALWAYS ask students, have you ever been in a vehicle with a friend or an adult where you have felt unsafe?  Over 90% of students raise their hands.  We ask many of them to tell us what the circumstances were and the reported behavior ranges from excessive speed, the driver texting, goofing around, not paying attention, and more.   Studies have also shown that teenagers who feel unsafe in a vehicle feel uncomfortable admitting it to the driver.  So they sit there, and just hope they'll get to their destination.   

 

Stories come in daily about teenagers involved in car crashes and most of the time there are multiple teens in the vehicle.   Below are just two stories I came across today 

 

Story #1 

Story #2  

 

Parents ask yourselves - is the convenience of your teenager hitching a ride with their friends, worth the risk?   

Several weeks ago I was contacted by the family of Humberto Noah, a 24 year-old man who was killed on January 26, 2013, by a red light runner in Mesa, Arizona.  Joe and Aurora Noah asked for my assistance in determining the outcome of the traffic case against the 18 year-old driver who had killed their son.

 

It seems the City of Mesa Arizona had no explanation as to what happened to Mr. Tyler LaFlam, the driver of a 2008 Jeep Wrangler, who ran the red light at the intersection of Lindsay Road and Pueblo Avenue - in spite of the fact that the investigating officer had submitted an arrest warrant/complaint requesting that Tyler Dean LaFlam be charged with causing death by moving violation, ARS28-672A4, a class 3 misdemeanor.

 

Apparently the Mesa Police Department failed to refer the case to the Mesa City Court for prosecution.  The Noah's began to wonder what was happening since they had never been called to testify or give any input to the court - which is a customary procedure for a victim's family and friends.  They were told there was no court case against Tyler LaFlam - no record could be found regarding any charges against him.

 

I obtained a copy of the police report and read all the details and witness statements.  There was no doubt Humberto Noah had the green light and was proceeding legally through the intersection.  Mr. LaFlam was reported driving 53 miles per hour - one witness stated "He was going excessively fast for the road conditions" and another witness stated "The jeep plowed through the red light, never slowed down and blatantly ran the red light striking the orange Camaro".

 

I wrote to the Mesa Chief of Police as well as the Mayor and the City Attorney asking for an explanation why Tyler LaFlam, the at-fault driver, had never been punished.  I was hoping the answer wouldn't be "oops we screwed up". 

 

A few days after sending my letters, I received a phone call from the original investigating officer.  He thanked me for bringing this case to their attention, and while he had no explanation for why there had been no referral to the Mesa Prosecutor, he told me it was being referred that day - one year and seven months after Humberto Noah was tragically killed.  State law, ARS28-672H states prosecution must be commenced within two years of the actual offense - so we just made it!

 

I'm anxious to hear what happened to this case between January 26, 2013 and August 14, 2014.  The answer may be that it slipped through the cracks, which doesn't speak well for the Mesa Police Department.  If Joe and Aurora Noah had not contacted me out of frustration, it is quite possible charges would never have been filed.  The good news is there may be justice for Humberto Noah after all!