The Dangers of "Trunking"by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 27 Aug 2006 03:31 PM As if parents of teen drivers don't have enough to worry about, a startling new trend has emerged that is causing an uproar in many families. It's called "trunking." Police say the practice was created by teenage drivers as a way to get around the new graduated license laws that ban new drivers from having other minors in the car. Rather than having their peers ride in the backseat, teen drivers are having their friends ride in the trunk. According to the National Transportation Council, the graduated license laws work in conjunction with the idea that restricting teenage passengers reduces the risk of accidents. Consequently, the law states that a teen may only drive with family members for the first six months after getting his or her license (though, keep in mind, every state is a little different). That, of course, is disheartening news for most freshly licensed 16-year-olds who are itching to take their pals for a spin in their car. So what did someone propose? Throw the extra passengers in the trunk and no one will ever know. Unfortunately, may didn't (and some still don't) realize that in some states not only is the practice illegal-it's also incredibly dangerous. In Chicago, two teenage boys were riding in the trunk of a car when it hit a tree. According to police reports: "The trunk lid popped open in the crash, ejected them onto the highway and they were run over." A similar situation occurred near Los Angeles last year. In that incident police report that a 15-year-old boy and his young friend died when they hitched a ride in the trunk of a car. "The driver crashed while making a lane change. The impact hurled the boys out of the trunk and onto the highway where they were run over by on-coming traffic." As a result, the mother of one of the dead teens is urging lawmakers to create a no "trunking" law. If it passes, the law would mandate that teen violators be made to pay $350 and have two points assessed on their drivers license, essentially suspending it for six months. Under the current law, the driver of the car that was involved in the accident which killed the two California teens was fined just $35. So what can you do if you find your teen "trunking?" · Police say make the consequences severe. Suspend all driving privileges for a period of time. · If you live in a state that currently doesn't have restrictions on teen drivers, set your own. · Teach your teen to buckle up (in most states it's the law). Police say it's extremely important that teens know that any unbelted passenger is at extreme risk in an accident- whether they are in the cabin or in the trunk. Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanttravel tags User Comments  Libby Pelham |
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