Massapequa HS Students and Parents Learn to Drive in the Safe Lane

Massapequa high school students may be looking forward to summer fun and a well earned rest from their studies, but they're also also heading into the most dangerous time of year for teen drivers.

 The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day  has been called "The 100 Deadliest Days" by law enforcement officials because of the drastic increase in crashes involving teens.

"This is totally unacceptable, because the majority of these crashes are preventable," said Wendy Tepfer of the Community Parent Center, which sponsored a recent program on safe teen driving at the Massapequa High School's Ames Campus.

Students an parents at the event,  called "Driving in the Safe Lane," and co-sponsored by the  PTA,  heard from the father of a teen who paid the ultimate price for the decisions he made behind the wheel.

"No one is invincible, so please take the time to think first and avoid destructive decisions," said Jerry Assa, whose son, Brian was killed in  January, 2008.

Brian was driving the car which was going at a high rate of speed at the time.  Neither drugs nor alcohol played a role in the crash, which Assa said was "purely a case of poor judgment."

"Not only did he lose his life that night, but his family and friends will suffer as long as they live,"  the father said.

Parents were told that they should continue working with teen drivers even after they earn their senior driver's license.  New drivers should avoid driving at night avoid having friends and siblings ride with them as much as possible. Like all drivers they should avoid distractions, wear seat belts and never drink and drive.

"Thhere are no do-overs," said retired Nassau County Police officer, Tom Gilberti, who also addressed parents and students.  "There are no reset buttons in life.  Whatever happens, happens."