Teens learn dangers of distracted driving

Reece Teramoto, 16, jumped behind the wheel of a car Saturday and, while navigating a narrow roadway demarcated by cones, he looked for a mirror in a bag of assorted items, solved an arithmetic problem and read a sign along the roadway.

He was learning what makes him a poor driver.

"It was a good way to realize the dangers of distracted driving," said Teramoto, a junior at Pearl City High School. "The cognitive distractions, things that can distract your mind, those are pretty bad, actually."

He was among 34 students from Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island who participated in the state Department of Education’s 21st annual student driving competition, which was sponsored by Tesoro Hawaii and DTRIC Insurance and held at Aloha Stadium.

Although cash prizes were available, the two-day event was geared toward improving teenagers’ driving prowess and emphasizing the dangers of distracted driving.

According to federal statistics, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. and teen drivers are more likely than other age group to be involved in a fatal crash involving distracted driving.

Teramoto, who’s been driving since last summer, said the event helped him improve his driving abilities and learn to avoid bad habits.

"I’m actually in the category for the most dangerous drivers in America," Tera­moto said. "Teenage boys are supposed to be the most prone to accidents, so I don’t plan on getting into any accidents."

For the first time, event organizers had special goggles to simulate the effects of a concussion by causing double vision. The students wore the goggles while trying to accomplish tasks such as catching a ball or walking a straight line.

Rolando Dace, a driver education instructor with the Department of Education, said concussion awareness was added because teens might not recognize the symptoms — which include dizziness, nausea and confusion — and drive home after suffering a sports injury at school.

"If they get a concussion, it’s a distraction in their driving," Dace said. "If we can get only one person to see the symptoms in a friend, then it could stop them from getting into the car, getting into a crash, or creating a crash with other people."

The students also took a field sobriety test with Hono­lulu police officers while wearing goggles that altered their vision to simulate the dangers of drunken driving.

"It’s a really good event to have because it raises awareness about distracted driving, drunk driving," said Jessica Higashi, 16, a junior at Pearl City High School. "It helps the students be better drivers overall because they’re able to maneuver the car better, and you have to know all the laws, and then we go on a road test.

"It’s kind of an energy boost for your driving skills," Higashi said.