Montgomery Blair High School's Online Student Newspaper — Saturday, May 4, 2024

A crash course in car-accident etiquette


Dec. 20, 2001, midnight | By Jenny Alyono | 22 years, 4 months ago

In the year 2000, nearly one out of every seven drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 was involved in a police-reported car accident, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Because of such high crash rates, teenagers should be prepared for post-accident moments; however, teens rarely are.

Senior Stephanie Cooney balked when she got into an accident. After she crashed her car into a highway guardrail on the way home from Pennsylvania, she sat confused and upset. "I was scared and shaking," she says. "I panicked. I didn't know what to do, whether to keep on going or try to get help." During that time, all Cooney could think about was how mad her mother would be when she found out about the crash.

Geico insurance agent Ty Ray feels that ignorance of proper accident procedure is widespread, but he hopes that it will be remedied through driver education classes. Ray recommends that drivers follow the following procedures in the event of a car accident.


  • Stay calm. Often drivers panic because they are thrust in a new situation, according to Shelly James, Blue Bird driving school office manager. "Nobody's prepared to get in an accident. That's why it's called an accident," she says. Ray emphasizes breathing deeply and thinking before reacting.

  • Though senior Ariana Peralta knew what steps to follow after her car was hit from behind at a red light, she was too stunned by what happened to react properly. "I knew what to do, but I was in such shock that I couldn't think about anything; 1 couldn't do it," she says. Peralta ended up calling her mother, who helped take care of the situation.

  • Turn off the ignition. Put the vehicle in park and turn on hazard lights.

  • Stay where you are. Fleeing from the scene of the accident is a federal offense. Additionally, getting out of the vehicle after a crash can introduce other dangers, especially at night. "If it's late at night, especially in a secluded area, do not get out of the vehicle. If you do, you increase your chances of getting assaulted," says Ray. Instead, Ray recommends that young drivers wait for others involved in the crash to approach and make calls for help.

  • Call 911. It's important to have a law enforcement agent write a report for documentation and aid any injured parties, says Ray.

  • Exchange information with involved drivers. Often the police will document this information, Ray explains, but drivers should also take down the other party's name, phone number, address, driver's license number and insurance company and policy number. Report the incident and the gathered information to your insurance agency.

  • If others involved are hurt, do not move them from the car unless absolutely necessary. While drivers should try to get help for the injured by any means possible, they should only move injured persons if the "vehicle is in danger of explosion or [if] some other element there could further induce injury," says Ray. Otherwise, wait until the proper authorities arrive on the scene.

    • Not following the necessary procedures can result in additional driving record points and higher insurance rates. While following these procedures is important, James reminds students to engage in safety precautions because of the potentially grave consequences of car crashes.

    According to NHSTA the teenage fatality rate is about four times higher than the rate for other drivers. Additionally, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control cites a more willingness to take risks and less frequent use of seat belts as major differences between teens and other age groups.

    Peralta urges students to wear their seatbelts in a car. "If I didn't have it on [when I got in the accident], I'd probably need an ambulance and have to wear a neck brace," she says. "The seat belt saved my life."



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    Jenny Alyono. Jennifer Alyono, a senior at Montgomery Blair High School, was born on October 8, 1984 in St. Paul, Minnesota. She attended Potomac and Cold Spring Elementary schools, and the magnet program at Takoma Park Middle School. This year she serves as Ombudsman, Managing Page Editor … More »

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