By Cody Hitchcock

Messenger Staff Writer

“Auburn: A safe teen driving city,” is visible on a sign on Luther Road when you enter the city limits of Auburn. But is this true?

The DMV says that there were 593 teen accidents in California in 2013. Sixteen-years-olds have a 3.7 times higher rate of getting into an accident than all other ages. Is this because of lack of skill? Or is it because students in the modern age are more inept at risk taking?

“Texts, checking Facebook or Twitter, or just talking on the phone is a huge distraction that takes away the drivers focus from driving,” said Auburn Police Chief John Ruffcorn.

Ruffcorn says that between 5-15 percent of accidents in Auburn involve teenagers.

Students were asked if they have ever been in an accident. “I was driving and the guy in front of me him hit his brakes and I hit him so bad, he hit the lady in front of him,” said Senior Aidan Stevenson.  He says he was distracted by a person walking on the side of the road.

Stevenson believes that there are more distracting drivers in the current technological era. Cell phones are being used while teens are driving. An unviewed notification is a cause for car accidents nowadays.

“Cell phones” is what causes car accidents said Stevenson. He believes texting is the number one cause for accidents today.

Twenty percent of teenagers admit to texting while driving, Approximately 5,000 of all fatal car accidents in California can be directly connected to cell phone use while driving.

“I do not know if your drivers are getting worse, I just think they have significantly more distractions because of cellular phones,” stated Ruffcorn.

In Auburn, the car accident rate is staying level. Ruffcorn thinks that nationwide however, they are increasing. But he thinks that numbers can be demolished by a simple action.

“I think teens could prevent having an accident by leaving the cellular telephone on the seat next to them, obeying all traffic laws, and having their passengers pay attention to other drivers on the road as well.”