VOICE OF THE PEOPLE | Oct. 29, 2009

Talk to your teen about safe driving

The week of Oct. 18-24 was National Teen Driver Safety Week, designated by Congress in 2007 with the goal of raising awareness about the tragedy of teen vehicle crashes — the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. This issue is more important now than ever and the dangers of texting while driving and other driving distractions — especially as it pertains to teens — have dominated recent headlines.

Although awareness of the importance of seat belt use and of the dangers of drinking and driving has grown, the rate of motor-vehicle related injuries and fatalities among young people in the U.S. remains high.

As auto insurance agents, we hear personally about a lot of these tragedies, especially during this time of year. However, there is an important message for Rock Hill parents: how you talk to your teens about safe driving can significantly affect the likelihood of your teen having a tragic crash.

New research from State Farm Insurance and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia reveals that the way parents communicate to their teens about safe driving can strongly influence their teens' likelihood of a car crash.

Specifically, the study showed that teens who said their parents set clear rules, paid attention to whom they were with and where they were going, and did so in a supportive way were:

Half as likely to crash

Twice as likely to wear seatbelts

71 percent less likely to drive while intoxicated

30 percent less likely to use a cell phone while driving

What this research tells us is that parents really do matter when it comes to their teen's safety behind the wheel.

We challenge every parent in Rock Hill to find time to talk to your teen about safe driving. It doesn't take a lot of time, but can make a significant impact.

For advice on talking to your teen about safe driving, go to www.statefarm.com/teendriving. There you'll be able to access facts and statistics, video demonstrations and research-based tips.

Parents and teens need to have many crucial conversations. Make a commitment to ensuring safe driving is one of them, and help keep our teens safe on the road.

Rett Rutland & Rob Joiner

State Farm agents

Blame the politicians for the mess we're in

Who is to blame? Simple answer: Politicians. Democrats and Republicans both rail against deficits, and we still have deficits. High taxes always bring out the naysayers in the legislature, and then they raise our taxes. The president, congressmen and the Supreme Court are the ones to blame for the predicament we are in today. The difference between them and us is the brazen amount of unmitigated gall these politicians have. There is no problem that we face today that cannot be directly attributed to them. High taxes, budget in the red, soldiers strewn throughout the world, all because of them.

The idea that there are two opposing parties is foolish. Whether one politician is voted out or the majority party shifts, nothing changes. The president campaigned on “Change you can believe in.” What has changed? We are still in debt, our taxes are too high, and we are not only continuing the wars of the previous tyrant, we are looking to expand the war zones to other nations.

The politician does not want us to make our own choices and to be free from government intervention in our lives. There is no power or control in that. Our concerns and opinions mean zilch. Writing letters, calling, faxing or any other contact with our politicians is a waste of time. If it weren't a waste, the banks would never have been bailed out, there would not have been any “Cash for Clunkers” and we wouldn't have our military on any foreign soil anywhere in the world.

Rick Gwin

Rock Hill

‘Back door' needs more work

“Spiffing up the back door,” as stated in The Herald, has been trying for those who live south of town but will be great once completed.

The key word is “completed.” Apparently, some folks think the intersection of Saluda and S.C. 901 is a huge improvement. I submit for them to try driving through it. This section of road has gone through a huge upheaval, and while there have been some improvements to traffic flow, the asphalt is subgrade and unlevel, and the entrances to local businesses required the use of a 4-by-4 to get into them.

Also, the brilliant planners made the path up the Saluda Street corridor (into downtown) go directly into the new curbing! Drivers must swerve severely so as not to run aground. The confusion with the lane changes (with no visable signage) is a major catastrophe waiting to happen. I witness an “almost accident” daily at this intersection because of this one change.

I encourage the DOT to spend a little time reviewing this area. Bring a big notebook and a new pen; you're gonna need it!

Margaret Black

Rock Hill

Here's what Rep. Spratt isn't telling you

In reponse to “Give South Carolinians the help they deserve” in Wednesday's Herald:

Shame on you, Rep. John Spratt. Do you really believe that the unemployment funds you seek come at no cost to the state? Those federal funds used to pay for the Recovery Act are paid for with dollars collected from the taxpayers of South Carolina along with taxpayers across the country. The representative stated that a dollar spent on unemployment insurance generates $1.64 in economic benefit — and that with all the inefficiencies of government in collecting, administering and distributing the dollars. Perhaps if we had chosen a tax cut instead of a pork-filled stimulus bill, people would be spending hundreds of billions of dollars unburdened by the overhead of the government. I wonder what the economic benefit of those dollars might be?

Roger Baron

Fort Mill