By: David Rosa Da Costa

The risks and the rules of the road, are being violated and pushed to the limits. With dangers in and out of Mt. Hebron, anything to mitigate those risks could be a huge help.

Distractions and inexperienced drivers fill the student parking lot. At the start and end of the day, cars and pedestrians are all trying to get into school or out. Easily distracted pedestrians are not always looking while crossing the road. Speeding cars of parents and inexperienced drivers does not help the situation.

“That’s the one thing I would like for the kids to slow down in the parking lot,” stated Mt. Hebron Student Resource Officer (SRO) Bryan Mason.

Speeding on the highway is equally dangerous due to the high speeds that cars can reach making it likely for young adults to lose control.

“35% of male drivers and 18% of female drivers (ages 15–20 years) who were involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash in 2020.” Stated Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Teen Drivers and Passengers: Get the Facts.

Impairment like drinking and driving is another issue leading to deaths and crashes among young adults.

“29% of drivers ages 15–20 who were killed in motor vehicle crashes had been drinking,” stated CDC Teen Drivers and Passengers: Get the Facts.

Any form of intoxication while driving can have long-lasting consequences on the lives of drivers and those around them.

Driving while impaired is commonly due to phone usage and how that causes the driver to become easily distracted, unable to avoid dangers that might occur in a few seconds. Leading to high crash rates among teens for phone usage.

Students can obtain their license at the earliest of 16 years old. Their inexperience makes them vulnerable to accidents and unprepared to handle behind-the-wheel challenges. Acknowledging this Howard County Police Department created the Collision Avoidance Training (C.A.T) program.

“I encourage a lot of students when they are getting ready to get their license or after they get their licenses to take that (C.A.T program) course,” stated Officer Mason.

The C.A.T. program is an advanced defensive driving program geared for teenagers to understand how their vehicle operates. With behind-the-wheel training, students prepare for real-world scenarios.

“I’ve done CAT and it is actually pretty fun,” said participant Mt. Hebron senior Braeden Wilson.

The roads are filled with inexperienced driver’s, swerving through the challenges behind the wheel. Mt. Hebron urges students to be careful and responsible, on the road and in class.