BCPD: Three Tips Parents of Young Drivers Should Know

The death of a Michigan State University football player in Wisconsin, along with another local fatal auto crash recently, have both been attributed to excessive speed at the hands of young drivers.

Sgt. Todd Elliott of the Battle Creek Police Department illustrates the point that drivers often do not understand how fast they are actually going - and what little reaction time they have in the event of a potential accident.

He illustrates three points to parents of young drivers:

• Adult behavior behind the wheel is modeled by young people who observe it. Parents have more control than they may think over their child's driving behavior.
• Reaction time is mere seconds when driving at higher speeds - even speeds that might not seem that fast; distracted driving reduces reaction time even more.
• Michigan State Police offer a day-long defensive driving safety course for teen drivers which bolsters the driver's training young drivers have received.

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Hear The Richard Piet Show weekday mornings from 5:30-9 on WBCK.