The Road Can Be A Dangerous Place

To the Editor:

We are the Nano Nacho Robotics Team from Fraser-Woods School in Newtown. Every year we compete in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League Robotics competition. This year in addition to building and programming a robot, we conducted research and interviewed experts on the subject of car safety in Newtown. We learned a lot about car safety and we wanted to share some of our research findings with our community.

First, we created a website and conducted an online survey of the driving behavior and habits of drivers in our area. Our results showed many drivers in our survey were distracted while driving; 22 percent used cellphones and 20 percent were eating while driving. Most of the respondents in our survey felt confident on the road but said they were most afraid of the actions of other drivers. In addition to our survey, we interviewed Officers Monckton and Hull from the Newtown Police. They were both outstanding resources. They showed us car safety data from 2008 and answered all our questions. They said most car accidents are the result of violating traffic laws and being distracted while driving. We learned that in Newtown, 49 percent of car accidents occur on only three streets; Route 25/Mt Pleasant/Main Street, Route 34 and Church Hill Road. Being extra attentive on these streets may help reduce accidents. In addition, we were surprised to learn that November is by far the month with the most car versus deer collisions.

The road can be a dangerous place. You cannot change the driving habits of other people, but you can be careful, follow the traffic laws, and be respectful of other drivers. Reducing or eliminating distractions when you drive will help reduce car crashes. Turning off your cellphone when driving or using a hands-free device may help too. If you do your best to drive safely, then you are helping to reduce car accidents.

Nano Nachos Robotics Team

Ahsen Pothiawala, Amar Kalaria, Amelie Gillies, Ben Becker, Henry Korth, Josh Becker, Sophie Hodson, Trevor Nelson, and Zach Mangold

Fraser-Woods School

173 South Main Street, Newtown                           December 2, 2009