One experience nearly all teenagers go through is learning how to drive. Part of learning to drive is the physical actions, like learning how to stop and accelerate or how to park, but another part is knowing the laws to follow. To educate new drivers, Yutan Police Officer Kristen Russell offers her perspective on driving.
“I have been in law enforcement for over ten years, first in the military and now as a civilian police officer,” Russell said. “I work traffic and community events while helping out with additional IT duties as needed.”
Working in the Yutan community, Russell has been able to see firsthand some common driving mistakes of both high school students and adults. These include mistakes made while driving and mistakes made once being pulled over.
“Speeding through the center of town is a big one; you’ve gotta stay mindful of that 25 mile-per-hour zone!” Russell said. “One of the biggest mistakes I encounter during a traffic stop is drivers not having their insurance information on hand. Nebraska now allows drivers to present digital copies of their insurance card to the police, which many people don’t know.”
While everyone is bound to make mistakes, Russell offers a few tips to help people drive better, which includes a practice called defensive driving.
“The best drivers are defensive drivers—basically, those drivers who realize not everyone else is going to follow the rules of the road and are able to react accordingly. Double-check intersections before you enter them, even if you have the right-of-way,” Russell said.
Even though people can do their best, no one is perfect, so they may find themselves getting pulled over. From speeding to having a tail light out, Russell has advice for what to do once an individual is pulled over.
“Stay calm, and keep your hands visible when speaking to the officer. Let the officer know you need to search for your paperwork or documents before diving into the glovebox,” Russell said. “When it’s safe to do so, send your parents or guardians a text or give them a call letting them know you’ve been stopped and why.”
A few more tips that Russell offers include what to do if someone were to get into an accident. While people hope to never find themselves in that situation, it is good to be informed of what to do.
“Check yourself and your passengers for injuries; report this information to 911 so they can dispatch an ambulance. If you can still move your car out of the road, move it over the shoulder until the cops get there; this will prevent a distracted driver from driving into your vehicle,” Russell said.
All in all, while Russell compliments the very minimal incidents involving minors in Yutan, she still emphasizes the importance of staying aware while driving.
“Stay defensive, even if other drivers are not respecting the rules of the road,” Russell said. “Keeping yourself and your passengers safe is the first priority.”
