emwavey

Teens Behind the Wheel on PBS

Anyone catch this documentary?

(WHYY) TV12, Thursday, December 29, 10:00pm
Teens Behind the Wheel

Director Jennifer Boyd's documentary examines teen driving habits as
10 Hartford-area drivers are recorded during a six-month period.

What really happens when teens get behind the wheel on a Friday or
Saturday night? Or when their friends join them in the car? This
film takes an unprecedented look at what actually happens when newly
licensed teenagers drive.


I only caught about the last half of the program, but it was interesting to see the counter-point between the Skippy School instructor, then the two PHDs.

I also found it very annoying how the dad with the "agressive son" who basically said he wasn't surprised by watching the video of his son.

I didn't see any mention of autocross or track days as being a great outlet for this agression. It's like a kid who learns how to box, or who learns a martial art. They get it out of their system, I guess I could say (we) get it out of our system, so we don't drive like asshats on the street... there's nothing to prove. We learn a more clear definition between "sport" and "transportation".

I'd love to hear some of your thoughts on this program.

EdoMoto

Can you record it I will pay for the shipping and tape.

THANX

emwavey

I only saw half of it, and alas, didn't record it. I'll have to see if PBS is going to rebroadcast it.

BarracksSi

I haven't seen the show...
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by emwavey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I didn't see any mention of autocross or track days as being a great outlet for this agression. It's like a kid who learns how to box, or who learns a martial art. They get it out of their system, I guess I could say (we) get it out of our system, so we don't drive like asshats on the street... there's nothing to prove. We learn a more clear definition between "sport" and "transportation".</TD></TR></TABLE>
Good corollary between driving and martial arts/boxing. There really is less temptation to prove your manhood.

I've always thought that street racing was stupid, and now that I've had a taste of dragstrip & autocross, I'm even more convinced. It's so much more fun when I don't have to worry about wrecking other people's **** and innocent bystanders getting in the way. Never mind the law-abiding aspects -- guarantee a clear course for me, and all I have to worry about is driving well.

These TV programs do nothing to help cure the problem. All they show is kids being "bad". Why not talk about better venues for fast driving? Imagine if they showed kids doing kung fu at home, untrained, and just beating the hell out of each other; they'll immediately show a segment on martial arts classes in an effort to show that they can have an outlet for their aggression.

Show kids racing on the street and being morons. Fine. But they'll have to show other kids who take their cars to the track to get their kicks. That's called balanced reporting.

LBHgti

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BarracksSi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

These TV programs do nothing to help cure the problem. All they show is kids being "bad". Why not talk about better venues for fast driving? Imagine if they showed kids doing kung fu at home, untrained, and just beating the hell out of each other; they'll immediately show a segment on martial arts classes in an effort to show that they can have an outlet for their aggression.

Show kids racing on the street and being morons. Fine. But they'll have to show other kids who take their cars to the track to get their kicks. That's called balanced reporting.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Agreed....

Dwelling on a problem without offering up a solution, or at least a path towards improvement, doesn't help anything. All it does is make the viewers more irritated with young and/or fast drivers. If they showed solutions, such as HPDEs or HP driving schools, and did interviews with a couple of experienced racers, or DE-ers, the viewers would better understand the benefit and might even encourage it.

emwavey

They did offer solutions... the biggest part of the documentary was the offering of cameras to 10 teenagers with the hope that "we" could learn something about their behavior. I don't think the kids actually knew when the cameras would be turned on, but I tend to think it may have involved an accelerometer.

Skippy School was another possible solution they offered... but again there was opposition to this, and it was really up to the viewer to make a judgement on whether or not it would be a benefit or not.

Progressive licenses in, I think it was North Carolina, seemed to be one of the best solutions.

Crazydave

I have a teenage step son.

I constantly remind him off the dangers of driving.

But it is scary to think what he's doing when I'm not in the car with him.

I saw him once by chance on the street, he was speeding and tailgating.

He got his *** chewed out for it, and denied doing it all the way, and then tried to justify it

I have also caught him driving and talking on the cell phone at the same time.
Again he got his *** chewed out for it.

His mother however refuses to punish him for this dangerous behavior. (She is the worst, she thinks driving always involves a phone convesation, when I ask her to let me drive so she can talk, she starts arguing and then says that starting an argument is more dangerous than talking on the cell phone )

Now the Teenage boy has a girlfriend.

She failed her drivers test 3 times.
Since she has had her licence (&lt;4 months) she has received a speeding ticket (45 in a SCHOOL ZONE!) and she has rear-ended another car! She never turns her wheels when she parks on the hill in front of my house I have to remind her. (The boy says that turning her wheels is too complicated for her, and she propably gets confused as to which direction to turn them)

Thankfully,
the boy is smart enough to not drink and drive. So far, the few times he has been drinking he has called to say that will be staying where he is at.

As soon as I can get some money together, and get his mom on board, I will send him to a teenage defensive drivers school where he will drive his own truck.

But what worries me is his everyday aggressive driving and talking on the cell phone. And this is the stuff I've seen... I know that when I was 17... I was doing all kinds of stupid *** ****.

fsp31

The problem with teenagers and their driving habits may be in the process of solving itself already. Anyone have an insurance quote for a 17 year old male with 2 tickets on his record? I'll bet it's sick no matter what he drives.

Catch 22

I've concluded that there's nothing you can do. You just hand them keys and hope they develop into a good, responsible driver before they kill themselves or someone else.

Our example is a 17 year old girl who can win the 10 person novice group at an autocross, save an impending spin, and run a Neon through a slalom on 3 tires... Then proceed to get out on the road and drive like complete and total ****. She CAN'T, simply CAN'T stay focused on what she's doing. Not even with Renee or I in the car with her, so I can only imagine how bad it is when we're not there. In her 3 years with a novice permit/license, she's damaged two vehicles on 4 separate occassions. Nothing serious, but she keeps running into curbs and poles and parked cars. Thats more, in 3 years, than I've done in 20 years of licensed driving. More than Renee as well.

Each time, she loses access to the car and has to pay for the damage herself, which is a good idea I think, but it doesn't seem to matter. She gets the keys back and runs into **** again.
Then... She'll dance the car around an autocross course like she was born between two cones.

In short, car control is meaningless if you can't make them pay attention.
And how do you make a 17 year old pay attention???
If you know the answer, write a book. It'll make you a bizzillionaire.

Scott, who actually feels sorry for that poor Neon sitting in the driveway.

Chris F

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And how do you make a 17 year old pay attention???
If you know the answer, write a book. It'll make you a bizzillionaire.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Take the cell phone away, pull the fuse on the radio. *shrug*

Catch 22

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris F &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Take the cell phone away, pull the fuse on the radio. *shrug*</TD></TR></TABLE>

Way ahead of you.
The response was using the friends phone and an ipod.

As we've found, taking stuff away solves nothing. Its a bad temporary solution to a permanent problem.

And she's one of the better ones. She has a couple of friends that have already written off cars at the ripe age of 17. One 18 year old has totalled two. Another friend of hers killed himself lasy year street racing.
And still... She can't focus.
We keep taking the keys from her, but she eventually gets them back because its hard for us to drive her around to work and choir practice and track practice.

Those of you who have no kids or young ones... This is what you have to look forward to.

94accordsedan

Remind me of the an incident a few months back when I went to the DMV to get my plates renewed.

Young girl, no older than 16 getting her learner's permit form filled out while talking to high heaven on the cell phone. I felt frightened knowing this monster would soon walk out the door almost licensed to drive.

steverife

That reminds me of something that passed me the other day.....late 80's Ford F350 dually driven by a high school aged girl, who had her left leg pulled up against her in the seat, cell phone in right hand up against her ear, and left arm flailing all over the place.

I understand wanting to put your kid in a big heavy vehicle, but think about the rest of us out there with her.

Sean O'Gorman

I've found the easiest solution is to just not have kids. What the hell were you guys thinking?

Catch 22

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've found the easiest solution is to just not have kids. What the hell were you guys thinking?</TD></TR></TABLE>

That was my plan as well.
Good luck with that .

george34

If this show is going to be on TV again post when it is going to be on.

I hate when I always hear at school that some kids car us really fast it can go like 110 or street racing. I just tell them that going that fast is dumb and there is no point to going that fast.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94accordsedan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Remind me of the an incident a few months back when I went to the DMV to get my plates renewed.

Young girl, no older than 16 getting her learner's permit form filled out while talking to high heaven on the cell phone. I felt frightened knowing this monster would soon walk out the door almost licensed to drive.</TD></TR></TABLE>

They should not even give her a permit.


Modified by george34 at 5:39 PM 12/31/2005

[HrZn]4life

I guess I could say (we) get it out of our system, so we don't drive like asshats on the street... there's nothing to prove. We learn a more clear definition between "sport" and "transportation".

I agree with this 100%. Once you start tracking you find yourself driving much more civilized on public roads. I actually find myself driving like a grandma from day to day.

94accordsedan

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by [HrZn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">4life]I agree with this 100%. Once you start tracking you find yourself driving much more civilized on public roads. I actually find myself driving like a grandma from day to day. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Haven't been to a track yet... but I am an autox *****.

Once I started autoxing, I suddenly realized how quickly you can step over that edge into out of control.

I find myself driving at the speed limit and being extremely cognicent of my surroundings these days.

BarracksSi

Heh... speed ***** at the track, grandma on the street...

I've become the same way. I can see all the potential disasters on the street waiting for me if I drive like an ***, so I've backed off a lot compared to how I used to drive.

I'm also more aware of the car's limits and what it can really do, so if I need that extra kick, I know how to get it. But that's almost always just sitting in reserve.

emwavey

http://www.rd.com/content/open...17940

from page 2... "Learn to use your eyes to look far down the road. Learn to spot problems before they happen," he says. "And remember that the safest vehicles on the best-designed highways on clear, sunny days are driven by fallible human beings who can crash into each other."

Looking ahead is something that translates from track to public streets. It's a skill that I'm constantly reminding myself to work on in both situations.

Another possible data point is the improvements in cars. We have nice "cushy" cars, that have the utmost safey built into them, and cars that almost drive themselves, traction control, cruise control, ABS, power everything, etc. It's no wonder it's easy for our youngins to be easily mis-lead into thinking that driving doesn't require their attention.

The result of lower springs, low profile tires and noise maker exhausts is so anti-comfort. Suddenly "ricing" cars doesn't seem so juvenile.

Slow EJ8

I didnt see the show but I agree with what is being said. Unfortunatly not too long ago I was one of those kids who just got their license/car and thought it was cool and fun to drive like an asshat on public roads. Its amazing I never got ticketed or even killed doing dumb things on the street. I can only be thankfull I never hurt anyone else or myself while being dumb.

At 16 or 17 kids (including myself) think they are invisible and can do whatever they want. Driving a car at that age is a sorta powerful fealing like you are in control and nothing can go wrong. It like a whole new world is opened to you but you do not yet understand the dangers and responsiblilty of driving.

Its only been a few years for me but I know understand how unsafe it is to drive agressivly on the street. Looking back and going by my understanding of the responsibility of driving I probably should not have had a license until 18-19 (20 now). Like it has been said, I drive like my grandma on the street, saves gas too.

rmcdaniels

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">In short, car control is meaningless if you can't make them pay attention.
And how do you make a 17 year old pay attention???
If you know the answer, write a book. It'll make you a bizzillionaire.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

You have to start young; here's some advice:

http://www.thebestpageintheuni...=beat


And seriously, kids are not much worse than many adults. The "test" for getting a drivers license is a joke, it's no wonder people don't take their driving privelege seriously. I moved to a new state and had to retake the test, so I studied a little pamphlet for ten mninutes while I stood in line at the DMV and aced the test.

I think that a drivers license written exam should cost $100 and be very difficult to pass, having an 80% failure rate. The driving test should be even more difficult, take all day with some closed course component, cost $1000 and have at least a 50% failure rate. I think we would have a lot less idiots on the road, insurance rates would drop, public transportation would get a huge boost, pollution would go down, traffic congestion would disappear, etc.

And the penalty for being found at fault in a wreck or getting excessive traffic tickets would be license revocation and a requirement to complete the tests again at full cost. Then maybe people would take driving seriously.

94accordsedan

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rmcdaniels &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I think that a drivers license written exam should cost $100 and be very difficult to pass, having an 80% failure rate. The driving test should be even more difficult, take all day with some closed course component, cost $1000 and have at least a 50% failure rate. I think we would have a lot less idiots on the road, insurance rates would drop, public transportation would get a huge boost, pollution would go down, traffic congestion would disappear, etc.

And the penalty for being found at fault in a wreck or getting excessive traffic tickets would be license revocation and a requirement to complete the tests again at full cost. Then maybe people would take driving seriously.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think your idea is great, but do you really think anyone but the select few who really care about being good drivers will agree to it? Average soccer mom and 9-5 dad and teenage kids will run to the senate complaining they can't go anywhere.

rmcdaniels

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94accordsedan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I think your idea is great, but do you really think anyone but the select few who really care about being good drivers will agree to it? Average soccer mom and 9-5 dad and teenage kids will run to the senate complaining they can't go anywhere.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, and the automotive industry lobbyists would never let any legislation that reduced the number of licensed potential car buyers pass anyway. I was just venting because I got cut off this morning by some idiot who got mad at me when I honked at him as he was trying to run me off the road. He was talking on his cell phone, never checked his blind spot, and didn't signal his lane change. Some days I really want a rocket launcher.

speedracer33

When I first started driving I was just ridiculously aggressive. I rarely made any trip anywhere without breaking 100 mph in my bright red shiny Integra. It was okay though, because I knew what I was doing! Yeah right. It's so scary to think back to how little I *really* knew back then, and how confident that I was that I was the greatest driver ever - despite never having turned a wheel on a track or auto-x course. I was just addicted to the speed and acceleration. I was never careless or overly involved with something else like Scott described, I just lived for the speed.