Letters to the editor are welcomed and will be published as space allows. Letters must be signed, although the staff may withhold the name upon request if deemed necessary. The paper reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws governing obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process, as are all contents of the paper.

Opinions in letters are not necessarily those of the staff, nor should any opinion expressed in a public forum be construed as the opinion or policy of the administration, unless so attributed.

Driving in a Winter Wonderland

By: Julie Morgan
Staff Writer

It's Monday morning. After a long weekend full of sunshine, the alarm clock rings, and you are not ready to begin your day. Nevertheless, you take a shower, eat some breakfast and walk out the door Your mouth drops open. You should have expected it...eight inches of snow coats the ground, and your rusty old 1973 station wagon.

With winter's horrible conditions, driving can become a challenge for teens and adults alike. There are many precautions every winter driver should take.

An informational search website (pamic.org) states that 5,000 teenagers are killed in car accidents, making cars the number one killer of teenagers. Car crashes kill more teens than cancer and all other diseases put together, according to the website.

Driver Education Teacher Mr. Luke Graham thinks that every driver should keep ice scrapers, washer fluid, a cell phone and some salt, just in case his car gets stuck. Graham also feels that student drivers should drive slower than what they normally do, so that they can get used to the snow conditions. Graham feels that winter tires are also very important. He also added, "A four wheel drive vehicle doesn't help you stop faster."

School nurse Mrs. Laurie Swanson doesn't let winter driving in bad conditions bother her. Swanson thinks that every driver should have a cell phone for emergencies only. Swanson thinks that a shovel, flash light, and blanket could also be helpful in case of an emergency. Swanson said, "I think they need to realize that the ice comes on you more quickly."

Library aid, Mrs. Brenda Seth feels that the most important thing drivers can do when driving in poor conditions is to slow down. Seth is terrified of driving in winter conditions, but feels that there is nothing she can do about it. Seth drives from Waterford every day and gives herself an extra 20-30 minutes in the bad weather.

So, when you get ready to go to school, make sure to scrape the windows of your 1973 station wagon, keep necessary items in your car, and slow down.