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Another Teen Dies in a Car Crash

Another Teen Dies in a Car Crash
Teenagers need responsible adults in their lives to model and teach good driving behavior. Are you one of them?

Sadly, another avoidable tragedy has occurred. The death of a teenager in a car accident.

According to the Daily Pilot, last Wednesday, November 26 at around 12:30 a.m., just a day before Thanksgiving, 16-year-old Jacob Alexander Pacheco, a former Estancia High School student, was driving along Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa, when he lost control of the vehicle, a 1999 BMW 540i. The car struck a tree across the street from Estancia High School and then caught fire. Jacob was killed instantly by the trauma.

Authorities are confident high speeds were a factor, but have not commented as to whether drugs or alcohol were involved.

Jacob had a 17-year-old passenger with him who attends Estancia High School. The passenger was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated, possibly with a broken jaw.

Once again, we have a tragic scenario that could have been prevented. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jacob’s parents, family, and friends.

Allow us to recount the facts:

A teenage boy, 16 years old. Teens and young adults are BY FAR the most dangerous demographic behind the wheel. In fact, car accidents are the #1 cause of death for teens. Males are more dangerous than females, because they are the greater risk-takers.

High speeds. You don’t have to have drugs or alcohol, or a lot of drivers on the road to have a deadly car crash. This was one car, probably not surrounded by many – if any – other cars. Driving above the posted speed limits is irresponsible and reckless, and as we have seen from many of the recent car crashes involving teens, it can very easily be deadly.

California’s Provisional Driver License Restrictions mandate:

Effective January 1, 2006, persons under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or other person specified by law when:

  • Transporting passengers under 20 years of age, at any time for the first twelve months.

  • Driving between the hours of 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM for the first twelve months

17-year-old passenger. We do not know whether Jacob had a driver’s license or permit, but in any event he should not have had a passenger that young without a parent or guardian in the car. There are plenty of reasons for this, chief among them is the fact that young people and inexperienced drivers are easily influenced and easily distracted – and since they are not experienced behind the wheel, this can prove

12:30 a.m. Nighttime driving is proven to be more dangerous for teens and other inexperienced drivers. And as stated above, the law provides he should not have been driving past 11 p.m.

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Fellow Orange County citizens, we have got to do something about this epidemic. At Safety 1st Driving School, we are doing – and will continue to do – everything in our power to create safe, skilled drivers in Orange County. We teach, instruct, and model positive driving behaviors and techniques. We practice what we preach (we have a zero tolerance policy for any of our instructors who don’t) and we have high expectations of all our students.

We can teach the student enough to do well in driving lessons and pass the DMV tests, but what happens when they get their provisional license and they aren’t being watched or instructed anymore?

That’s where the parents (and other responsible adults) come in. What can you do to help keep your teenager safe? Here are some starters:

  • Model good driving behavior. Don’t underestimate your influence on your teen. Follow posted speed limits (even when you’re late!) and other traffic laws, do NOT text and drive, be patient and respectful of other drivers, and be cautious. And when you make a mistake, admit it and do better next time.
  • Talk to your teens. Where are you going? Who are you going with? Who’s driving? Keeping open communication with your teens, though it may be annoying to them, could save their lives.
  • Impose boundaries on your new driver. Do NOT let your teen drive at night, or with passengers – especially if the law says so. To and from school, okay. With you in the car, for sure. But giving unrestricted access to a teenager – especially in a car easily capable of driving at high speeds – is just asking for trouble. Sure, it may make you the bad guy – but so what, if it saves your kid’s life?

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Step 1. Complete our online driver’s education course

Register for our online driver education course. After you complete the required chapters and tests, we will then send you the DMV Certificate of Completion (DL387) that you can take to the DMV when you are ready to take the written test for your learner’s permit.

Our online driver ed course is available to all California residents. You can take our course at your own pace, in your own home in your own time.

Step 2. Study for the DMV written test

You will need to study for the DMV written permit test by reading through the DMV California Driver Handbook. It will benefit you if you take your time and study the handbook so you are comfortable with the information that will be on the test.

Take your time, you don’t want to have to go back to retake the test.

Step 3. Make an appointment at the DMV to take the written exam

It is important that you call ahead of time and schedule an appointment at the local DMV so you can go in and take the written test.

The lines at the DMV are usually very long so you don’t want to waste your time waiting in line. Make sure that you are well prepared for your appointment.

Most DMV’s are open Mondays through Fridays until 5 pm; Some are also open on Saturdays for a few hours so call ahead of time and see which date and times are best for you.

Step 4. Bring necessary documents to the DMV office

  • Complete the application form DL 44, remember the DMV always requires An original to be submitted. Copies will not be accepted in any form, so make sure you have exactly what you need. You can get this form from your local DMV.
  • Have your parents or guardians sign the application form DL 44.
  • Give your right thumbprint.
  • Have your picture taken.
  • Provide your social security #
  • Verify your birth date and legal residence
  • Submit the proper form(s) for Driver Education and/or Driver Training (see below for details)
  • Pay the $28.00 application fee (This fee entitles you to three exams of any type within the 12-month period and pays for both the instruction permit and the driver license. If all requirements are not met within the 12-month period, the application becomes void and all steps must be completed again.)
  • Pass a vision exam, if you need glasses, wear them.
  • Pass a written test, there are 46 questions on the test.
  • You need a passing score of at least 39 correct answers.
  • You have three chances to pass the test. If you fail, you must wait 7 days before taking it again.

 

Driver Education and Driver Training Form Requirements:

If you are 15  years of age, you will need to bring with you:

  • Form DL 356 or OL 237 (Completion of Driver Education) with form DL 391 (Driver Training Enrollment ) if your school has a contract with a driving school.

OR

  • Form DL 356 or forms OL 237 and OL 238 (Completion of both Driver Education and Driver Training)

OR

  • Submit form DL 391 or OL 239 (Simultaneous Enrollment in Driver Education and Driver Training)

 

If you are over 15 but under 18 years of age, you will need to submit:

  • Form DL 356 or OL 237 (Completion of Driver Education)

OR

  • Form DL 391 or OL 239 (Simultaneous Enrollment in Driver Education and Driver Training)

 

If you are over 17  but under 18 years of age, you may get your permit without the driver education and driver training certificates however, you will not be able to take the driving test until you turn 18.

Once you pass your written test, you will be issued a provisional permit. You can be issued a permit at age 15, but you cannot take the driving test or be issued a driver’s license until you are 16 years of age.

A parent, guardian, spouse, or adult 25 years of age or older, who has a valid California driver’s license, must be with you when you drive. They must sit in a position that allows them to take control of the vehicle, if necessary. It is illegal for you to drive alone at any time.

Before being eligible to take the driving test you must:

  • Be 16 years old
  • Have had your permit for a minimum of six months
  • Have completed driver education
  • Have completed 6 hours of professional driver training
  • Have completed 50 hours of practice with an adult 25 years or older. The adult must have a valid California driver’s license and certify to the 50 hours of practice. At least 10 of the 50 hours must have been done at night.

 

If driver education and driver training were taken in a state other than California, DMV will accept either a Secondary Schools Other Than California Schools form DL 33 completed by the out-of-state school or a letter on the out-of-state school’s stationery signed by a school official stating that the courses are equivalent to California’s requirements. Instructional permits issued by another state are not acceptable

Step 5. Complete behind the wheel training

When you pass the written exam:

  • You are required to take your first 2 hours of behind the wheel training with a professional driving instructor.
  •  You may start behind the wheel training with your parent/guardian or other licensed drivers who are 25 years of age or older.
  •  You must further complete four (4) more hours of driving school instruction.
  • Complete fifty (50) additional hours of behind the wheel training with a parent/guardian or any other adult who is 25 years old or older. The adult must have a valid California driver license and certify that you’ve had the 50 hours of practice. It is required that 10 of the 50 hours of training is done in the evening.

Step 6. Take the driving test at the DMV

To be eligible to take your driving test you must:

  • Be 16 years old
  • Have had your permit for a minimum of six months
  • Have completed a driver education course
  • Have completed 6 hours of professional driver training
  • Have completed 50 hours of practice with an adult who is 25 years or older. The adult must have a valid California driver license and certify to the 50 hours of practice. At least 10 of the 50 hours must have been done at night.
  • You will also need to show registration and proof of insurance for the vehicle you will be taking your drive test in.
  •  If you fail your drive test, you must wait two weeks before you can take the test again. You have three chances to pass.
    • Driving (behind-the-wheel) retest fee is $6.00.
    • Motorcycle driving (behind-the-wheel) retest fee $6.00.

 

After you pass your drive test you will be issued an interim license valid for 60 days until you receive your new photo license in the mail. Double-check your address before you leave DMV and tell the DMV representative if you have moved or if your address is incorrect.

If you have not received your license after 60 days, call (916) 657-7790 and they can check on the status for you. Have your interim license with you to provide information when requested.

Step 7. Receive provisional license upon passing the driving test

After you pass the Driving Test, you will be issued a provisional license. Your license will have the following restrictions for the next year: During the first 12 months, you are licensed to drive you must be accompanied by a driver 25 years of age or older if you drive between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. or if you have passengers under the age of 20 in the car at any time.

Persons under 18 may not be employed to drive a motor vehicle. When you become 18, the provisional part of your license ends. You may continue to drive as an adult using your photo license, which will expire on your 5th birthday after the date you applied.