(February 21, 2008) — At Clark, it is a common sight to see a car speeding out of the student parking lot at unsafe speeds trying to get away from the school before the buses block their path for five minutes. On the last day of finals last month, five students were walking down the hill below the school when they were almost run over by one of these cars trying to leave the student parking lot before the buses passed. Barbara Melone, senior administrative secretary, said that the students think, “Oh if I hurry up, I will beat the bus.” She added that what they should actually do is wait for the buses to leave and then leave. The thing is that she is right. Except in rare occasions, the buses will always have left the school by 3:10 p.m. Melone also suggested that some students drive fast because they have the freedom of being able to go where they want and consequently they feel more reckless. “I think we have all gone faster than we should at one time or another,” Melone said. The trend of teen speeding started in the 1950s. After World War II, part-time jobs became available to teens so that they could now afford used cars. Rock ‘n’ Roll was just created at this time and many lyrics were about cars, turning them into more than just a mode of transport in the eyes of teens. Hollywood also idolized cars, and recent movies such as The Fast and the Furious continue the trend to this day. These movies have fostered a generation that wants to drive fast and is more careless. Every time a student speeds, they risk theirs and others’ lives. Every time a person gets in an accident where they are at fault or are caught driving recklessly, they will get either one or two DMV points. If someone gets four points in 12 months, they will have their license suspended for a year. DMV points will also increase the amount you have to pay for car insurance. This means that driving fast can shave a few minutes off of a trip but it can also cost you money or even shave a few years off of your life if you get into an accident.
Clarkies cause concern over speeding
February 4, 2009
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