6 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2015 National Teen Drivers Safety Week begins Sunday October 18-24 is National Teen Driver Safety Week. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for 15- to 19-year-olds in the United States. In 2013, there were 2,614 teen passenger and driver fatalities, and an additional 130, 000 teens were injured in teen-operated vehicles. Parents and caregivers are the biggest influence on a teen’s safety behind the wheel. Parents need to take the time to talk to their kids about the many dangers of driving. From Sunday, Oct. 18, through Saturday, Oct. 24, join parents across the coun- try in the “5 to Drive” cam- paign. Get the facts about teen driving and share some of the grim statistics with your teen. Know the state’s graduated driver licensing (GDL) restrictions and enforce them. Remind your teen that driving is a privilege, not a right, and should be taken seriously. Set the rules before they hit the road. Seventeen-year-old Sierra Potter is a successful Florence teen driver, and is careful to follow the “5 to Drive” rules. • The first rule, no drinking and driving, is a serious health problem for teens. Climbing behind the wheel of a car after drinking alcohol or using drugs increases the chances your teen will crash. “I don’t drink because it’s gross. And when you’re drinking, it’s bad because it messes up your vision and reaction time is slower when you drink,” Potter said. Teens are more likely than anyone else to be killed in an alcohol-related crash. Remind your teen they face adult consequences for impaired driving. • The second rule, seat belt use, is a no-brainer and takes seconds to accomplish — but unfortunately seat-belt use is lowest amongst younger driv- ers. The majority of teenagers involved in fatal crashes are unbuckled. speed, and hold off on get- ting your teen that high-per- formance sports car. • The fifth and last rule, no extra passengers; is criti- cally important to follow. In a study analyzed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teen drivers were two-and-a-half times more likely to engage in one or more potentially risky behaviors when driving with one teenage peer compared to driving alone. “No extra passengers because it might distract me from driving and make me COURTESY PHOTO look away from the road,” Siuslaw senior 17-year-old Sierra Potter says she always Potter said. practices the “5 to Drive” rules when behind the wheel. Familiarize yourself with the Oregon’s graduated “Yes I always put my seat- Talk to your teen about the licensing program and belts and make sure my rules and responsibilities enforce its guidelines for friends do too,” Potter said. “I around distracted driving. your teen. Don’t be afraid to don’t want to get into trouble Share some stories and statis- set your own rules and con- and I don’t want to see them tics related to teen drivers and sequences. get hurt either.” distracted driving. Set the Remind your teen that Remind teens that buckling example by keeping your eyes extra passengers cause dis- up is the law. Set the example on the road and your hands tractions that can be deadly. yourself by always buckling off your cell phone. “Don’t do anything illegal up in the car. Remind teens • Rule number four is sim- and drive safe. Don’t just that this isn’t a one-time con- ple: No speeding. A study by think about yourself. Also versation; it’s an ongoing the Governors Highway think about other people,” effort. Safety Association (GHSA) Potter said. • The third rule, distracted found that between 2000- — Submitted by Al Kreitz, driving prevention, is a grow- 2011, there were 19,447 Western Lane Ambulance ing problem across the coun- speed-related crashes involv- District try. A teen’s inexperience ing teen drivers; half of fatal behind the wheel makes them crashes involving 16-year-old more susceptible to distrac- drivers with three or more pas- tion when driving. Dialing a sengers are speeding related. phone while driving increases “If you do sports, get home your teen’s risk of crashing by safely but no speeding,” six times and texting when Potter said. “I don’t speed driving increases the risk 23 because I don’t want to cause times. anyone to get into a wreck “I don’t text and drive,” and it’s illegal. I don’t want to said Potter. “My mom told me get in trouble.” not to text and drive or she’ll Get involved with your take my car away and it’s teen. Teens that are monitored really distracting because closely tend to speed less. Be you’re looking up and down.” a good role model and never FLORENCE Round-Up Habitat for Humanity Restore Staffed by volunteers, the ReStore accepts donated appliances, household items and building materials; fi xes them, displays and sells them to raise funds for Habitat programs. Come and join the fun! ReStore 541-997-583 • 2016 HWY 101, Florence 6RPHHYHU\GD\LWHPVZKHQGLVSRVHGRI LPSURSHUO\KDUPWKHTXDOLW\RIGULQNLQJZDWHU DQGFDXVHRWKHUHQYLURQPHQWDOGDPDJH.HHS \RXUZDWHUVXSSO\VDIHDQGKHDOWKIXO³ WDNHDPRPHQWWRJDWKHU\RXU KRXVHKROGKD]DUGRXVZDVWHDQG SXWLWLQLWVSODFH Helping Hands Coalition FRIDAY, 2&7‡ SATURDAY, 2&7‡ BRING: Bring your friends for good food and good fun! 10 miles east on Canary Rd. Questions? Call Nancy at 541-997-2380 Assisting those in need in our Community. Free Hot Meals Mon-Wed-Fri 11 AM - 2 PM PO Box 1296 • 1339 Rhododendron Dr., Florence, OR 97439 Call 541-997-5057 to Volunteer FLORENCE TRANSFER SITE 15KRGRGHQGURQ 'ULYH •5:00 p.m. Kitchen Opens •6:00 p.m. BINGO and some discounted materi- als from various sources. Come participate in three hours of Zumba fitness with licensed instructors from Florence, Medford, Coos Bay and North Bend — all danc- ing to “raise the roof” for CROW. The event is going to be focused on fun and fitness, and attendees will be able to purchase raffle tickets and enter to win two rounds of golf at Sandpines Golf Links; two tickets to see the last Resort Players’ production of “Chicago” the musical; a hotel package; gift certifi- cates to some of the best restaurants on the coast; Zumbawear and many more prizes. For more information, con- tact Dori Wolfe at 541-999- 4788, Melanie Heard of CROW at 541-999-8641 or Nichole Shaw of Fill A Truck at 541-621-7776. For information on the CROW program, including a sneak peak at its upcoming “Scare-CROW Haunted Maze” set to take place Oct. 29-31 in the new building, visit www.crowkids.com. Volunteer•Get involved•Donate HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE pressreleases@thesiuslawnews.com BAKED POTATO BAR... along with regular Bingo menu Fill A Truck Zumbathon is hosting a charity dance event to “Raise The Roof” for the nonprofit youth theatre organization, CROW (Children’s Repertory of Oregon Workshops). The event will be happen- ing on Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Siuslaw Elementary mul- tipurpose room, 2221 Oak St., from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. Admission is a suggested donation of $10, and all pro- ceeds will go directly to repairing the roof of CROW’s new Center for the Perform- ing Arts — a permanent youth arts facility at 3120 Highway 101. CROW has been working to complete the many needed interior and exterior renova- tions for its new building so that the doors can be opened as quickly as possible to local children for skilled arts instruction and more. Estimated cost to replace the roof is approximately $7,500, which takes into account donated professional labor from skilled local tradesmen and contractors, Do your part and volunteer today to help support these local non-proft organizations in our community! Deadlines for press releases and news items are Mondays and Thursdays at noon. Ada Grange #570 Saturday, October 17 Come Zumba and help CROW ‘raise the roof’ ‡Paint ‡Household cleaners ‡Lawn and garden chemicals, ‡Car care products ‡Arts and crafts products ‡Other household hazardous waste Limit is 35 gallons of waste in total from each household. Check labels for words like ÁDPPDEOHFRUURVLYHSRLVRQFDXWLRQ and GDQJHUFor your safety it is always best to carry these items in a separate compartment(like the trunk of your car) with secured lids to eliminate spills in transport. DON’T BRING: ‡ Empty containers ‡ Drums ‡ Radioactive waste ‡ Asbestos ‡ Explosives or electronics For information about disposal of radioactive waste, asbestos and explosives, call Lane County Waste 0DQDJHPHQW'LYLVLRQDW8SWR seven (7) Covered Electronic Devices, CEDs. Can be UHF\FOHGIRUIUHHDWDQ\RQHWLPHDWWKHVH/DQH County Transfer Stations; Glenwood, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oakridge, Veneta, and Vida during normal operating hours. Also, Lane County accepts sharps, oil, antifreeze and batteries of all types year-round at all refuse disposal sites.