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Updated: 8:21 AM Jan 5, 2008
The Teen Speed Factor
Fort Defiance, Va. State Police say a preliminary investigation indicates speed may have been a factor in Amy Caracofe's accident.
Posted: 5:48 PM Jan 4, 2008Reporter: Meg Gatto Email Address: mgatto@whsv.com |
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3 Comments 
State Police say a preliminary investigation indicates speed may have been a factor in Amy Caracofe's accident.
Amy Carecofe lost control of her vehicle on Dam Town Road Thursday. A make-shift memorial now stands where she crashed.
State Police 1st Sgt. Scott Van Lear says the number of teenage drivers involved in accidents rises each year.
He says, "The number of drivers compared to the number of crashes and number of fatalities nationwide is astronomical compared to the older generation."
So state police try to educate teens about the dangers of speeding but often, the message falls on deaf ears.
Van Lear adds, "I think what we see is a mind set of a teenager that they are invincible and therefore, they tend to drive a little faster."
Van Lear says sometimes it takes tragedies like a fatal accident to remind people to be careful while out on the road.
He says, "As we get older and we gain driving experience and we start losing our friends, we start realizing that this driving isn't a game. That it's serious business and I think it slows us down a little bit."
Latest Comments
This is prime example of why teenagers should NOT be able to have their drivers license until they reach 18. That is what the age is for voting, and all they have to do there is make a mark on a paper, driving comes with tons of responsibilities, which most people under the age of 18 are not ready for. They think cars are toys. What a shame this beautiful child had to die. I feel for her family.
Kristy, you are a good person to do this on your own. It shows you care about your child and want to help her, not enable her. She may sputter and fuss now, but when she's 30 she'll appreciate this. Believe me!
I agree with Sgt. Scott VanLear about the increase in teenage accidents. I also feel that some of the blame lies on our judicial system. My step-daughter got her license in February, totalled her car 3 weeks later. The Judge slapped her on the wrist with a $25 fine and a driver improvement (8 hrs.) class. She wrecked again in July, again the Judge fined her $25 and the DMV requested the driver (8 hr.) class (another teenager was in court that was on his 5th offense). We restricted her license to going to and from work and she took her 2nd driver improvement class two Saturdays ago and just this past Saturday (one week later) she hit a car in the parking lot at her work. We had to pull her license. The Judge wouldn't do it. And, of course, we are the bad guys here. I asked if it took her killing someone else or herself for her to learn something. It's sad. A parent can only do so much. She is a very cautious driver when we are with her, but you can't always be there.
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