indepth

by: abbie wesely

f ir st a id

EMerGENCY

S URV IVAL K IT

icy roads... chilling outcomes.how to avoid the ominous threats of the winter road

Volume 2 issue 3December 20158

With winter just around the corner, students at GHS are starting to recall the dangers that come

with driving in the snow and ice. These conditions can be alarming; however, there are many ways to stay safe this season.

According to the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR), it is important to beware of icy areas such as bridges and sheltered areas. An accumulation of freezing rain or sleet could make exposed surfaces dangerous and potentially cause damage. Also, one should drive at reduced speeds and turn off cruise control in wet or snowy weather.

“Two things I tell my Driver’s Ed students are don’t trust what the roads look like because you can’t always see ice, and always drive slower and increase following distance,” said Jami Ewer, Driver’s Ed teacher.

It is crucial to be prepared while driving this winter. Always be sure to have enough fuel and check your tire pressure often. Give yourself enough time to get to your destination.

NDOR advises various ways to stay safe in case a person becomes trapped in the snow. Stay in the vehicle to avoid the cold, but crack a window to ventilate it. Make sure to run the engine sparingly and avoid overexertion. The most important thing is to not panic.

As winter approaches, remember to check for current weather reports through local media sources before you travel. Driving in the snow and ice may seem problematic, but there are numerous ways to stay safe on the roads this winter.

extra clothes

flashlight

car batteryphone and car charger

9december 2015Volume 2 issue 3 indepth

by: olivia kahler

Safety laws and new car technology are now quite effective in protecting people during a car crash; however, one of the most successful methods of avoiding a fatal crash is to wear a seatbelt.

According to Traffic Safety Marketing, seatbelts save over thirteen thousand lives every single year. A seatbelt keeps a person secured in their vehicle if it crashes. Without it, a person can go flying around the inside of his or her car, which can cause injuries that may even be fatal. Seatbelts are designed the way they are for a reason, and wearing them can prove to be very beneficial.

“The seatbelt held me in place and kept me from flying forward,” said Keyes. “If I hadn’t been wearing it, I think I could have possibly gotten a concussion or been thrown from the car.”

A seatbelt hits a person at his or her strongest points, like the hips and shoulders. They are made that way to keep the person in place to avoid further injuries.

Cars are designed to take impact. For example, a crushed car is usually more damaged on the front and back ends. The middle of the car is more likely to stay unharmed in the event of an accident.

Some people may think that if they choose not to buckle up, it will not make much of a difference; however, other crash preventatives are not supposed to replace seatbelts; they work with them. For example, airbags are installed in a car to protect each passenger in case of an accident. If a seatbelt is not worn in the event of a large impact, the driver

seatbelts become the real hero when faced against fatal crashes

the simple solution

advice from deputy mary:

always pay attention to only the road

look ahead instead of right in front of you

try to anticipate

drive proactively by watching drivers around you

drive defensively

Rachel Keyes, junior, was recently involved in a car accident that left her car totaled. Luckily she was wearing a seatbelt and was not harmed.

Seatbelts were not made to be a painful task to the driver or passengers. Their technology helps to prevent injuries and has saved thousands of lives. It is important to buckle up when getting into a car because clicking the belt may just save your life.

or passengers could be thrown into the bags, causing even more trauma.

Photos by: Olivia Kahler

of drivers in deadly crashes were not wearing seatbelts55%

Drivers are dying, parents are crying, and teens are earning their reputation as the most reckless drivers in the world.

Our society’s growing pressure to be perfect has driven teens to a new level of dangerous driving. Caught up in the daily attempt to meet expectations, drivers are mindlessly using their time behind the wheel to take their eyes off the road, and focus their attention on getting ready and even applying makeup. This is when beauty becomes deadly.

“I see it at least one time every morning on my way to work,” said Deputy Mary Synowiecki. “It shows little regard to other drivers and they are putting themselves and the others around them at serious risk.”

Applying makeup, brushing hair, and checking teeth all require the driver to take his or her eyes off the road. Research done by Stephanie Schwartz reports that an alert driver needs 1.5 seconds to react to something. Putting on makeup doubles the reaction time that a driver needs to put his or her foot on the brake.

“We as drivers should never be doing anything but paying

indepth

by: jamison karasmakeup application introduces a new form of reckless drivingkiller makeup

Photo Illustrations by: Jamison Karas

attention to the road,” said Deputy Mary. “It only takes that one second of looking away until it’s too late.”

According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,154 people have died from distraction affected crashes in the past year alone. Not to mention, 424,000 have been injured from distracted driving.

The danger of the act leads to crashes and the downfall of the careful nature once existent in driving. The continuation of these crashes will only lead to a damaged reputation for teenagers all around the world. The outcome of reckless driving needs to be realized in order to change the flawed priorities existent in youth.

You will never see your family again, but at least your eye shadow will be flawless. You will never get to kiss your husband on your wedding day, but hey, your lips will have the perfect color. You will never meet your kids, so I guess you could have held off on fixing your hair, but hey, at least you look good.

Let’s question these priorities, so we do not end up becoming a mindless statistic.

20% of female motorists have confessed to putting mascara on while driving

december 2015

women are responsible for half a million road crashes from distracted driving

volume 2 issue 310

indepth december 2015

With technology being a necessity in our daily lives, it is hard to tear

our eyes away from the glowing screen. This has gotten to the point where it is life threatening. Here are some statistics to show why that text can wait.

by: Amanda minckler

Tips to help stop the distraction:

Have a friend text back for you.

Use the bluetooth in your car to text back using your voice.

Put your phone in the back seat to remove temptation.

Tell whoever you are texting that you are about to drive so they know not to distract you.

It can wait

While you text and drive, you drive the

length of a football field without looking

at the road.

Texting while driving is the same as driving after having beers.

11 teen deaths per day are due to

texting while driving.

Teenagers who text while driving spend about 10% of their driving time drifting out of their lane.

Texting and driving causes of all car accidents.

The risk of a crash increases 23X when you drive distracted by a phone.

Photo Illustration by: Jamison Karas

11volume 2 issue 3

4

25%

Information from: textinganddrivingsafety.com