In serious need

of teen driving courses in this area.

WEST WINDSOR, N.J. (AP) -- Police believe speed and driver inexperience were factors that left two cars carrying four teenagers in a pond in West Windsor.

The 17-year-old boys swam to safety before the vehicles sank in the frigid water at the Mercer Oaks East golf course Wednesday.

Their names were not released.

The accident happened after the boys were dismissed from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South.

Police believe an Oldsmobile sedan failed to negotiate a turn on Conover Road, crashed through a fence and rocketed into the pond. Police say a Volkswagen station wagon that was close behind followed the Olds into the pond along the 13th green.

Fire Department divers helped remove the vehicles from the water.

We need to get more kids through this program: http://www.streetsurvival.org/

OK, 2 cars went into the pond? One followed the other?

They didn't just "fail to negotiate a turn" they went off on purpose.

We need a national drug prevention program in elementary schools, then at least they won't be stoned when they fly off the road. Wow, wouldn't it be great if the prevention program also put a seed in their minds about safe driving: www.GodSaveTheClown,com Hmmmmm.....

It could have been done by accident if they were driving fast and reckless enough.

Unfortunately, I doubt driver safety courses do anything to make teenage males feel less-than-invincible.

So...I doubt that's the answer. I doubt there IS and answer.

And yes...I can clearly see how this one played out. Two cars driving fast on a fun road, the thrill of the chase makes reason take a backseat and next thing you know, the lead car blows a turn. Car two is close behind, going just as fast...no reason to think physics will treat it any diferently.

This is a case of a pond being in the wrong place at the wrong time ;)...

Clem

ClemSparks wrote: I doubt there IS and answer.

Get scared E36 M3less when your older brother nearly kills you in a car from driving like an shiny happy person?

Its worked pretty well for me. Only time I ever got a ticket was the first time I was able to drive in 4 weeks cause I had been in a sling and couldn't shift. I got a little carried away (it was also 2 AM).

I almost killed myself several times racing cars in High School. My friends also had many close calls. What can I say, we were idiots.

I think something like Street Survival would have helped a ton! Both of my kids will be going through it when they hit driving age.

Anything that can be done to lower the barriers to entry for young drivers to participate in sanctioned events will help.

I never even knew the SCCA existed until I was out of high school. Never had heard of autox and had no idea how to become involved in a safe outlet for speed.

I completed drivers ed in a 78 LTD, but that was the extent of my formal instruction. Of course, I got to drive the 80 Datsun pickup anywhere on the 'farm' from just about the time I could reach the pedals. That just intensified the need for speed, though.

carguy123 wrote: OK, 2 cars went into the pond? One followed the other? They didn't just "fail to negotiate a turn" they went off on purpose.

Haha... naw, the driver behind automatically assumes 'if the car in front can take the turn at that speed, I can too!' That doesn't always work out, and especially doesn't work out when the car in front can't actually take the turn.

Case in point. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47cZAns8dkU

When you're a 17 y/o male and you have that much testosterone coursing through you, your judgement gets very clouded (see M5 + Ocala runway incident--although being spoiled rotten also contributed to that situation).

Youthful stupidity has always and will always be around. Nothing that the moralizing parents of the past, present or future say or do will every change that. Testosterone-fueled dumb is an unstoppable force.

I'm glad no one died in this instance of it.

Somehow I survived that phase.

carguy123 wrote: OK, 2 cars went into the pond? One followed the other? They didn't just "fail to negotiate a turn" they went off on purpose.

Nah, the guys in the VW had just been asked, "If your friends jumped off a bridge would you do it too?" and they all said "Yes."

I'm glad no one was seriously hurt from the accidents, although they probably were once they got home.

Im thinking it was your typical follow the leader kind of accident.

car #2 driver was following the back of car #1 and not following the road.