Ceremony Warns Teen Drivers of Consequences

As 67 high-schoolers waited for Judge Thomas Sotelo in traffic court for a driver's license ceremony in March, Officer R. Wayne Twombly chatted with a few in the front row.

"What school do you go to?" he asked a 17-year-old Chantilly High School student. "You ready to get your license?"

"Of course," she replied. But her mother next to her gave a doubtful look, and all three started to laugh.

And so the cycle continues: teenagers ready to seize the feeling of freedom that comes with a driver's license, while parents worry over the possible consequences of such freedom.

To make sure both parents and young drivers are aware of those consequences, the state of Virginia requires ceremonies just like the ones that happen three times a week at the Fairfax County Courthouse. At these sessions, a crime prevention officer and a traffic court judge speak to teenagers and a guardian about just how far their freedom stretches.

The ceremony begins with the showing of the music video "Untitled" by Simple Plan, which depicts a car accident caused by drunken driving. The video shows not only the physical crash damage, but also the effects such a crash can have on entire families.

Twombly, with a crash map of all injury crashes involving youth aged 15 to 20 in 2008 and 2009 propped up behind him, told them why so many crashes involving young drivers occur: inexperience, distraction and fearlessness.

To tackle inexperience, the solution is exactly what you'd think it is: Get experience.

"If you play an instrument or a sport, you practice," Twombly said. "It's no different for driving."

Distractions come in many forms. Whether it's the radio or passengers, a cell phone or an iPod, it's easy to distract inexperienced drivers. State law has tried to minimize distractions for teens by prohibiting drivers under 18 from using cell phones or other wireless devices while driving, regardless of whether the devices are hand-held.

State law also prohibits drivers under the age of 18 from having more than one passenger who is not a family member.

He told a story about pulling over a young driver who had her car filled with her friends.

"I said to her, 'I know all these kids can't be relatd to you,'" Twombly recalled. "She said, 'In God's eyes they are.' I gave her a warning just for being so clever, but not all officers will have my sense of humor, so don't try to steal that line."

Twombly's message was not just for the new drivers. The parents got their own lecture, as well.

"When your kids go out at night, they always, always, have access to drugs and alcohol. It's just whether they choose to do it," he said. "And if they make the wrong choice, it's up to you to be on the other side of the phone ready and willing to go pick them up when they get into trouble. To me, it's a no-brainer. Pick your kid up."

Sotelo picked up on Twombly's message to parents: "The mere fact that your son or daughtr is receiving their license does not nullify, terminate or end your responsibility as a parent. It is a privilege from the commonwealth of Virginia, but also a privilege extended by you."

Sotelo made clear that parents have every right to take away their child's license if they deem it necessary, and he encouraged parents to sit down with their teenager to not just lay out all rules they must follow, but also the consequences if they break them.

He said his aim is not to demean the important milestone that is getting your license to drive, but to give perspective.

"The car is great. It opens up an avenue of freedom you've never had," Sotelo said. "But I want you to remember that the greatest consequence associated with the act of driving is death."

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This week, to its students and their parents.