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Teens may be even more distracted behind the wheel than previously thought
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Giving in to the temptation to talk with friends or answer texts while driving holds serious consequences for teens behind the wheel, according to a new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which found that six in 10 car crashes involving teen drivers were linked to distracted driving. - photo by Kelsey Dallas
Giving in to the temptation to talk with friends or answer texts while driving holds serious consequences for teens behind the wheel, according to a new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which found that six in 10 car crashes involving teen drivers were linked to distracted driving.

"Access to crash videos has allowed us to better understand the moments leading up to a vehicle impact in a way that was previously impossible," said AAA president and CEO Peter Kissinger in a press release. "The in-depth analysis provides indisputable evidence that teen drivers are distracted in a much greater percentage of crashes than we previously realized."

The study investigated nearly 1,700 crash videos "from an in-car system many families install in the vehicles of young drivers to keep track of their movements and habits," The Washington Post reported.

The Post's coverage included a video of accident clips, showing teens texting before veering off the road and slamming on the brakes after being distracted by a friend in the passenger seat.

Of the crashes linked to distracted driving, 15 percent were due to the drivers' interaction with other passengers and 13 percent were attributed to cellphone use, The New York Times noted.

"Half the time in rear-end crashes, teenagers using cellphones failed to react at all in the moments before the crash," the Times reported.

AAA's press release highlighted the importance of laws that limit teen drivers' access to risky behaviors. "Thirty-three states have laws that prevent cellphone use for teens and 18 states have passenger restrictions," it noted.

But with or without laws to back up their rules, parents "play a critical role in preventing distracted driving," according to the AAA. They can set ground rules at the beginning of their driving careers, making it clear that distracted driving is not an option.

"Parents need to talk to their kids early and often about safe driving (and) they should reinforce what they say by modeling safe driving practices," notes a resource guide for teen driver safety from Find Youth Info.

Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compiles safety research on its website, encouraging parents to talk to their kids about the "eight danger zones" impacting teen drivers, which include driver inexperience, driving with teen passengers, night-time driving, failing to use seat belts and drowsy driving.
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Have You Seen This? Street musician slays with clarinet
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Better than almost every face-melting guitar or drum solo. - photo by Facebook video screenshot

THE BIG EASY — Yeah, yeah, we all know that New Orleans is stuffed to the gills will incredible musicians.

But knowing that fact and then hearing that fact are two different things. You can step into any number of jazz clubs on any given night on Bourbon Street, and you’ll probably be impressed with virtually every act. Or you can sit at home on your comfy couch and watch this featured video.

In the video, you’ll see a woman who is in the groove. She is swinging hard, and wailing on her clarinet with a practiced expertise that makes it sounds so easy.

From note one you’ll be drawn in; your appreciation will grow with every second, and then your face will melt off when you realize how incredible she really is.

If you’ve never played a woodwind or a brass, you may not know everything that comes with a performance like this. Lung capacity and breath control are huge factors in keeping your notes clear and loud, and hitting those high notes is especially difficult.

So when this woman hits that high note and holds it for several seconds, you know you’re dealing with an exceptional musician. It means she has worked hard for years to develop skill on top of her natural talent, and we get to benefit.

It kinda makes you wonder how we let people get away with mumble rap and autotune when talent like this exists in the world.

I wish this video were longer, and I wish I had more information about this woman, but as it is, we’ll just have to appreciate the little flavor of New Orleans jazz posted by the Facebook group Clarinet Life.

Martha Ostergar is a writer who delights in the ridiculous that internet serves up, which means she's more than grateful that she gets to cruise the web for amazing videos to highlight for your viewing pleasure.
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