"I would support anything that would help reduce accidents in teenage driving," Sam Jarman said. "And if this bill has been researched and there is that data that would show this kind of (action) would help students to make better choices in their driving, then I would support it."

Years ago, Tilton remembered, there were "scared straight" programs in which where teens in trouble with the law would be taken to a prison or jail and have to spend some time with hardened criminals, who would talk about the stupid mistakes they made and the harsh realities of living in the often abusive atmosphere of prison and jails, where the stronger inmates prey on the weaker, younger inmates.

Perhaps a similar "scared straight" could work on teen drivers, he thought.

"People mature at different rates," Tilton acknowledges. "They begin driving more safely for different reasons at different times, maybe."

But Jeppesen questions whether "you can scare teenagers that way."

"They need to be aware driving is dangerous, they need to be alert when they drive ... and take responsibility and do what they're supposed to when behind the wheel," Jeppesen said. But "they don't think of it in terms of the finality of it."

But Tilton says if a paper that touches some kids' hearts and minds could help, then it is an effort that should be made.

"They put up a plaque and some trees" as a memorial for his lost niece and her two friends. That's nice, he says. But what more can be done to save some future teenagers' lives?

"I want to keep these tragedies fresh before some of these kids' eyes. Writing a paper about someone they knew, or their parents knew, or someone from their own community or school — maybe it will have a lasting impact beyond just weeks or months."

---

E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com; jtcook@desnews.com