Brighton, N.Y.—Brighton Police Chief Mark Henderson said Tuesday's crash involving a car and bus could have been prevented.
“That young driver that was driving the car could have adhered to the provisions,” said Henderson.
The provisions he referenced were those of the Graduated License Law which limits young drivers to one underage passenger.
“It appears by all appearances that we had a young person, a junior operator that was not following the provisions of passengers in a vehicle,” Henderson explained.
No charges have been filed against the driver of the white sedan that police say struck the back of a school bus Tuesday afternoon. All four teens in the car were injured.
Police are still trying to determine how fast the sedan was traveling and if there were other factors in the crash beyond speed.
How to Enforce Rules
Henderson said police will ticket those who violate the Graduated License Law, but most of the enforcement help must come from parents.
“Safe teen driving starts with the parents,” said Henderson.
“It’s really hard to force the issue; it has to be parental control. What else can you do, parents just have to control where kids go with their cars and who is in the car with them,” added Larry Scott, Manager of Morgan Driving School.
Scott said his instructors bring up the Graduated License law frequently in classes.
“It will definitely be tough because everyone is always like, ‘Oh, I need a ride. Can you help me, it will be real quick,’” said Mitch Wolf, a 16-year-old who began his first formal driving lesson Wednesday.
Wolf was aware of the Brighton crash and said it made him “a little depressed” as he prepared for his lesson.
“Of course you would like to take more than one (person in the car); but I guess it’s necessary because your life’s pretty important,” Wolf said.
