Community Corner

Parents Should Speak to Teens About Road Safety

Parents need to sit down and talk to their teenagers about the rules of the road.

Tuesday marks the two week anniversary of the that took the life of Francesco Posillico and in Westbury, and, although details of the investigation continue to be examined by authorities, one thing that police know is that a stop sign was ignored and excessive speeding was a contributor that led to the crash.

Posillico, 17, of Westbury, was killed when he was ejected from his BMW after a collision with a Chevy that caused his vehicle to tumble through the intersection of Bowling Green Drive and Salisbury Road. The two other passengers, Daniel Roche and Joseph Scaperratto, both 17 and from Westbury as well, suffered spinal injuries, and Roche was placed in a medically induced coma. But, according to hospital officials, "both teens are in good condition and are improving every day."

This accident has opened up discussion about safety and teen drivers, and one concerned Salisbury parent recently spoke to his two teen daughters about the dangers of the road.

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"The time to sit a teen down is not after the tragedy," Rick Collins, a partner at Collins, MacDonald & Gann, said. "It’s not after the accident or the ticket. It’s before."

A simple conversation about the rules of the road and the dangers that come with it, Collins says, goes a long way to make sure your adolescent understands the environment around them.

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“I am concerned, as a parent, not only about their driving, but about the driving behavior of others,” Collins added.

Collins also added that he has seen the damage that negligent driving can cause, which is outlined below.

Violating Vehicle and Traffic Law

  • Tickets
  • Points on License
  • Increase of Insurance Costs
  • Suspension of License

When An Accident Occurs

  • Tickets
  • Points on License
  • Further Insurance Escalation
  • Suspension of License
  • Potential for Criminal Charges (If driver is significantly reckless.)

When Multiple Infractions Occur

  • Reckless Endangerment and Reckless Driving Charges
  • Three Years of Probation
  • Fines
  • Up to One Year in Prison
  • Criminal Record

When Someone is Injured

  • Reckless Assault
  • Five Years of Probation
  • Criminal Record
  • Up to Seven Years in Prison

When Someone is Killed

  • Manslaughter
  • Criminal Record
  • Up to 15 Years in Prison

*Potential civil lawsuits can be financially devastating to wrongdoers as well.

According to Collins, teens can't wait for the day that they acquire their license, as it symbolizes a major step in their life.

"Every teenager yearns for the day they get their license," Collins said. "All they can think about is the freedom and fun associated with getting behind the wheel of the car. It’s a milestone in the adolescent maturation process."

Collins said that it's unfortunate that something like this needs to happen to bring awareness to a cause, but there is an obligation for parents to do what they can to try to avoid another situation like this.

“It’s essential for parents not to simply rely upon the instruction that occurs in the driver’s ed program.” Collins said. “That program is great, but I don’t think anything replaces the guidance of parental authority.”


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