Backus nurse on Governor's task force to reduce teen driving mishaps
Gillian Mosier, RN, MSN, Trauma Program Manager at Backus.
When teens first get their license, all they can see is the independence and fun ahead of them.
Gillian Mosier, RN, MSN, Trauma Program Manager at Backus, sees the other side of the story – when reckless driving leads to life changing or deadly crashes.
"Teens think there’s no way it can happen to happen to them. Then, they pile into a car with an inexperienced driver, talking and carrying on and having a good old time.
Almost every one of these kids killed over the last year, was due to inexperience, speed and/or passengers were involved," she said. "They might survive the crash, but their lives will be altered tremendously."
Ms. Mosier hopes proposed legislative changes can help educate teens and reduce the number of fatal accidents. As a member of Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s Teen Driving Task Force, she has been involved in drafting legislation that would impose tougher penalties for driving violations, and also provide more education.
"My biggest thing is if they are convicted of an offense, whether it be speeding or reckless driving or even too many kids in the car, that they attend a specialized program for teens and their license is restricted," she said. "If they have three offenses, they lose their license for a long time. There is a push to have police officers remove their license on the spot and tow the car or have the parents come get the car."
Two crashes in March resulted in three more deaths, bringing the total so far this year in Connecticut to eight. In 2007, 14 teens were killed in car crashes. After the most recent deaths, Gov. Rell urged lawmakers to fast-track the proposed legislation, which was passed by the Transportation Committee in March and awaits further action by the House this month.
A recent study by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia found the three biggest risk factors contributing to car crash deaths for teens are riding without a seatbelt, inexperience and high speed. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for tweens and teens. The researchers studied national data on serious car crashes between 2000 and 2005. During that time, 2.5 million children aged 8 to 17 were involved in crashes and 9,807 died.
Proposed changes in Connecticut are modeled on recent changes in Massachusetts, which have led to increased tickets and suspension for junior operators. Fatal crashes involving teen drivers in Massachusetts fell from 27 in 2006 to 17 last year. Tougher penalties and increased fines are proposed for violating passenger restrictions, using a cell phone, violating curfew, speeding, reckless driving and driving while drunk.
Ms. Mosier has coordinated Backus Hospital’s Be Aware program, which educates teens about the consequences of risky driving for more than 10 years. The program for local high school students includes visits to the Emergency Department, Critical Care Unit and LIFE STAR and videos of the scene of an accident. Speakers – paramedics; nurses; occupational, speech and physical therapists; talk about the impacts of drunken driving accidents.
"One of the kids who speaks at the program is paralyzed," Ms. Mosier said. "He was in prison for six years because his girlfriend died in the accident. He was convicted of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence."
The other young adult had just received his license and his inexperience and lack of attention to driving, killed his best friend. She said parents need to be aware of the risks and the restrictions on graduated licenses and permits and talk to their teens about the importance of the laws.
Proposed changes to the Connecticut teen driving laws
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More than double the time required for behind-the-wheel instruction — from 20 to 50 hours.
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Move up the curfew for restrictedlicense drivers from midnight to 11 p.m.
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Double the minimum license suspension for teenagers caught driving under the influence to one year.
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Eliminate an exception to passenger restriction laws that allows permit holders to transport immediate family members, including siblings. Permit holders would no longer be able to transport anyone under 20 years old.
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Extend passenger restriction laws to the first six months for newly licensed drivers. During this period, restrictions would mirror those for permit holders.
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Impose new license suspensions for drivers under age 20 convicted for a first offense of speeding, reckless driving, street racing or using a cell phone or text device.