Youth SMARTS

New Drivers

So it’s time to get your license! As if your parents weren’t turning gray fast enough, now you want to learn to drive a car. Well, if you’re 16, you’re old enough to get a G1 license, which allows you to drive with an experienced and licensed driver in the car with you. This involves writing a test. If you take a driver’s training course, you are eligible to get your license eight (8) months after the day you earn your G1. If you choose not to take driver’s education, you must wait 12 months.

Here’s what you’ll be tested on:

• Identifing and demonstrating some of the driving controls inside the vehicle,
• operating a vehicle with reasonable skill and control,
• Using proper signals,
• Conducting correct left and right turns,
• Selecting proper traffic lanes,
• Driving in reverse,
• Allowing right of way to pedestrians and other motorists,
• Controlling and maintaining your speed,
• Parallel parking and parking on hills,
• Obeying traffic control devices,
• Demonstrating good driving practices,
• Observing the rules of the road.

If you can’t control the vehicle, don’t obey traffic laws or if you make too many errors that require correction, you’ll probably flunk. Make sure you’ve practiced enough to feel confident before you take the test.

• While driving at a slow speed, as in a school zone, make a note of when the vehicle in front of you passes a fixed point, such as a sign post or tree.
• If you pass the same point before you can say “one thousand one, one thousand two” you’re driving too close.
• The faster you drive, the more distance you must place between you and the driver in front of you.
• Adjust your driving in poor conditions such as fog, snow and heavy rain.
  When you stop behind another car make sure you can see its back wheels touching the road.

Did you know . . . ?

• If you arrive at a four-way stop at the same time as another driver, you must yield to the car to your right.
• You have to yield to cyclists and pedestrians when you make a turn.
• Yellow doesn’t mean “floor it!” Stop at a yellow light unless it’s unsafe to stop.
• Failing to stop for red lights is illegal!

Road Rage

Whether you are the culprit or another driver is, road rage is often avoidable. Here are a few tips:

• Being considerate helps to reduce other drivers’ frustration.
• Getting back at a driver who cuts you off, or getting angry, usually causes the situation to get worse and can cause collisions. Keep your cool, even with obnoxious drivers.
• If you’re getting angry, take a deep breath and relax. Getting upset won’t help.
• Tailgating can make other drivers mad.
• Insulting hand gestures can make other drivers mad
• If another driver is acting aggressively, slow down and put some distance between you and the other car. If you think a driver is following you or is trying to start a fight, call the police on your cell phone if you have one. Or, drive to a place with a lot of people around such as a convenience store, mall or even a hospital. Don’t get out of your car. Don’t go home.
• Be on the look-out for things you don’t expect such as pedestrians who don’t see you coming and other drivers who change lanes unexpectedly.
• When the light turns green, check the intersection before you go to see if someone is failing to stop at a red light (check left, then right, then left again).
• If you’re about to enter a school zone, reduce your speed to 30 km and keep your eyes open for small children crossing the road or running into traffic.

Protect Yourself in your Car

Try to drive cars that are in good working condition, and make sure you have enough gas to get where you’re going. But if you do break down, here are a few tips:

Breakdowns

• Turn on your four-way flashers immediately to warn drivers behind you.
• Use emergency flares to warn other drivers you have stopped.
• Coast off to the side of the road so you won’t get hit by following traffic, even if you have to drive on a flat tire.
• If you have a cell phone, great! If not, look for a pay phone or roadside emergency phone. Keep some loose change or a phone card in your car for emergencies.
• If someone stops to help, stay in your car and ask him or her to go and get help. It’s a bad idea to go with a stranger no matter how old you are or whether you’re a guy or girl.
• Know where you are and where you’re going – keep a map in your car.
• Keep your car doors locked.
• Roll your windows up enough so people can’t reach in when you’re stopped.
• Keep valuables on the floor or out of sight, not on the seat.
• When you’re going to your car, especially at night, have your keys ready and keep your eyes open for suspicious people hanging around.
• Look inside the car before getting in.
• f you think you’re being followed, drive to an open gas station, convenience store, or any place where there are a lot of people. Call the police and try and remember as many details about the incident and the other car as you can. Another option is to attract attention with your horn and by flashing your lights. Whatever you do, don’t drive home!
• Hiding spare keys is risky – criminals can imagine most hiding places you can.
• Keep documents that identify your address on you, not in your car, if possible.
• Park in well-lit areas close to the mall or buildings – avoid deserted areas in parking lots.
• Lock your doors and close your windows.
• Don’t leave valuables or change out in plain sight.

7 Safe Driving Apps

Youth Criminal Justice Act

The Youth Criminal Justice Act is the legislation in Canada that deals with young people who break the law.

The legislation applies to young people who were 12 to 17 years old when the action they are accused of was committed.

When a young person breaks the law, police use the Youth Criminal Justice Act to decide what action they will take. A young person may be dealt with outside of the formal court process, or may be sent to court. A young person who is found guilty, will be given a sentence by the court.

In Ontario, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services provides programs and services for young people who:

• have been dealt with under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, or
• are at risk of breaking the law.

The ministry’s programs and services:

• hold young people accountable for their actions
• provide opportunities for young people to make better choices
• provide services that address youths’ issues and help them not to get into trouble with the law again
• help build safe communities and prevent crime.

Young people in conflict with the law have very different needs from adults. That is why Ontario is moving youth out of adult correctional facilities and into separate secure custody facilities dedicated to young people. These facilities will provide young people with effective programs and more opportunity for rehabilitation.

The Ministry of the Attorney General is responsible for court processes for young people.

The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services has responsibility for the police.

When the young person is dealt with outside of the formal court process

Extrajudicial Measures and Extrajudicial Sanctions

Youth in these programs take responsibility for their actions and develop skills to reduce the chance that they will get in trouble again. A young person might:

• get counselling to help deal with problems such as drug abuse
• volunteer in the community
• repair or pay for damaged or stolen property
• write an apology
• take a program such as anger management.
• School-based Prevention/Diversion Programs

These programs are in schools across the province. They bring together community agencies, police and teachers to keep schools safe, respond to acting out behaviour, address youth issues and help youth in trouble stay in school.

Restorative Justice Programs

The youth, victims, the family and the community come together, with the help of trained adults, to talk about the harm done and how to repair it.

Bullying

Have you or someone you know ever experienced any of the following?

• Teasing
• Name calling
• Hitting
• Fighting
• Stealing your property
• Forcing you to give money
• Being ignored or left out
• Having fun at someone else’s expense

If so, there is something you can do…

Bullying hurts. It can make you upset. It can make you so worried that you don’t want to go to school. It can make you feel bad about yourself or feel that something is wrong with you.

What can you do about it?

• Tell! Talk about it with a teacher, your parents, an adult you trust. Some schools have anti-bullying programs that can help you.
• Keep a list or diary of what is happening to you.
• Ask your parents to visit the school and talk to your teacher about making it stop.

Name calling, yelling insults and spreading rumours can be even more hurtful than physical fights.

Do you ever see someone else being bullied? Maybe it’s a friend of yours or just someone in your class. Don’t ignore it. Here’s what you can do:

• Tell a teacher or another adult.
• Don’t join in and be a bully too.
• Don’t get into a fight with the bully.
• Try to be a friend to the other person, even though it might be hard.

Don’t give up.
The most important thing to remember is not to give up. The first solution you try might not work. So try another approach until you find one that works in your situation. There isn’t one magic answer – but by talking to a friend or an adult, together you will find a solution.

For more information visit

• https://www.ontario.ca/page/bullying-we-can-all-help-stop-it
• https://www.easyteacherworksheets.com/teacherprints/bullying.html 

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Youth In Policing Initiative

Chatham-Kent Police Service has partnered with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services – Youth Justice Services Division to provide an innovative summer employment opportunity for youth from our community to develop skills relevant to a possible future career in policing.

The Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI) is an eight-week summer employment program intended to support youth to gain valuable employment experience, exposure to general life skills and develop a mentorship relationship with our police staff. YIPI seeks to create opportunities for youth and police to build positive relationships, develop mentoring relationships and provide training and employment prospects. This initiative allows youth to earn income, become more aware and engaged in their community, and help build employment experience, life skills, self-esteem, and a sense of security.

During the summer months, the Chatham-Kent Kent Police Service has students work primarily in the following areas of the police service:

• Training/Career Development & Fleet Services Sections
• Media Relations and Traffic Sections
• Records Section

Above: 2010 YIPI Summer Students Destiny Pailey, Nathan Verburg, and Aaron Hurst

To qualify for this program applicants must be:

• Between the ages of 14-17,
• Eligible to work in Canada
• Seeking work experience/job skills training relevant to these areas of policing,
• Successfully complete the recruitment/background check process,
• Agree to a mentor relationship,
• Have not completed YIPI in the past; and
• Will be returning to school in September

Successful applicants must be able to work flexible hours and in all areas of the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. The term of employment is expected to be in the months of July and August (no more than eight weeks total).