Recent fatalities may serve as wakeup call for teen drivers

Many of the activities that make this time of year so fun for high school students are the same ones that worry their parents.

Spring kicks off a season of parties surrounding prom, spring break and, ultimately, graduation. It's a chance to blow off steam as the end of the school year approaches. But parents, school and public safety officials see the parties as invitations for judgment lapses, which can be fatal behind the wheel.

"This is the time you make the dumbest mistakes," said Joshua Carela, a senior at Leto High School. "We choose not to think about it."

Though crashes can happen at any time, school and law enforcement officials are talking to students now about driving risks, urging them to be more careful. They host "scared straight" lectures, mock crashes and funerals and lobby students to sign pledges saying they won't drink and drive or drive distracted.

Drivers between 16 and 19 are more at risk than any other age group to be in wrecks. Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Crash statistics can belie the danger.

For example, the period between April and June 2009, the most recent year data was available, saw the highest number of fatal wrecks involving teens in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, with June accounting for the highest number that year. In 2007, though, January through March was the most dangerous time period, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fatal crashes involving teen-aged drivers in the three counties has dropped from 78 in 2007 to 49 in 2009, mirroring an overall decline in fatal crashes across Florida.

A variety of factors add to the dangers for teens on the road. Compared to other age groups, teens are the least likely to wear seatbelts, according to the CDC. They have limited driving experience, may be impaired by alcohol or drugs or distracted by cell phones, text messages or other passengers.

On Sunday, for example, four Sarasota County teens died after smashing into a cinder-block wall. Alcohol was not a factor, but it was late, and investigators said the driver may have been speeding. One of the teens wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

Those issues are heightened during prom season, spring break and summer vacation.

"People probably make the worst choices then," said Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputy Teresa Amin, who serves on the sheriff's office traffic safety awareness team

Amin coordinates mock accidents staged at high schools four times a year. The demonstrations now include warnings about cell phones, in addition to drinking.

The mock crashes are elaborate events, involving help from towing companies and funeral homes. Firefighters cut away smashed cars to release teen actors, bloodied by drama departments. Emergency transport helicopters whisk survivors away for treatment.

Leto High School took another approach this year: A group of students visited Tampa General Hospital last month to see the emergency room and helicopter. This month, teachers arranged for a "grim reaper" to tap 20 seniors on the shoulder and dress them in black "ghost" T-shirts to symbolize youths killed in traffic accidents.

"We have prom coming up soon," said Leto teacher Kimberly Garcia, "and we don't want anybody in black shirts or experiencing anything like this."

The ghosts processed into the auditorium with candles, before two Tampa Fire Rescue firefighter-paramedics showed a series of gory photos from accident scenes. They told students how drivers had flown through dashboards, how quickly something can go wrong, and described the chilling sound of a police officer knocking on a family's door to report a child's death.

Those behind such efforts say there's no way to measure their effectiveness, but they know the message gets through to some kids.

"You hope that even if it makes a difference to one of the kids, that it's worth it," Amin said.

Carela, 18, appeared as one of the "ghosts" in Leto's assembly. He said the experience hit home.

"I just kept thinking about what would happen if it happened to my girlfriend or a family member or any of my friends," he said. "It would dramatically change my life."