Teen driver killed trying to save petrol

[Jason[98.EL]]

taken from ninemsn

A P-plate driver was killed and a passenger "lost half her face" after a plan to save petrol backfired.

The 18-year-old Tasmanian driver — "worried" about fuel — turned his car's engine off and removed the keys from the ignition while coming around a bend on a highway, the Mercury newspaper reports.

But he was unable to steer the car out of the path of an oncoming truck after the steering wheel locked.

Three passengers in his car were severely injured, with one female losing half of her face.

The driver, whose name has been suppressed by the Tasmanian Coroners Court, had only been on his P plates for one month before his death.

Coroner Rod Chandler yesterday released his findings into the crash, which occurred in December 2008 during a drive to Hobart on the Channel Highway at Margate in the state's south east.

He described the driver's act as "ignorant", saying the teenager's death could have been avoided if he knew enough about the vehicle he was driving.

"This crash occurred as a consequence of the deceased deliberately removing the key from the ignition while his car was still in motion," Mr Chandler said.

"As a consequence, the engine disengaged and the steering wheel locked as soon as an attempt was made to steer the vehicle.

"I am satisfied that it occurred in this instance not because the deceased was being foolhardy or irresponsible but rather because of his ignorance of its effect upon his capacity to manage the vehicle."

Mr Chandler said the teenager was coming around a left-hand bend with the engine off when the car skidded across the road and into the path of a Volvo truck.

Mr Chandler said speed and the fact the driver of the truck had minor traces of marijuana in his system had nothing to do with the accident.

"Quite clearly it is an extremely dangerous act to remove a key from a vehicle's ignition whilst it is still in motion," he said.

[kypez]

I just read that online a little while ago. Why would you take the keys out though?! What possible reason could you have to do that?!

I'd say for the driver, he should be in the darwin awards. But its sad that he was dumb enough to do that with passengers especially since a girl lost half her face in this.

[gtfpv]

speechless .
something is very wrong with human intelligence if this can happen on our roads, both in INTELLECT AND EDUCATION .

[ILLaViTaR]

What's more surprising (Human stupidity is overdone too often to be interesting anymore) is that the truck driver isn't being crucified despite it not being his fault. Once the m word comes up the individual automatically becomes the scapegoat.

Hmmm maybe they're learning.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by kypez

I just read that online a little while ago. Why would you take the keys out though?! What possible reason could you have to do that?!

Trying to save on petrol it seems!

:-|

[jcxr]

Same thing happened years ago when a little old ladies passenger tried to open the glovebox of her friends car, prompting little old lady to remove keys whilst tootling up the road, both killed. Ironic, it was also in Tasmania.

[Wretched]

darwinism at it's best.

[EFPWR]

My mate showed me this article earlier. What a knob. Really. If you can't afford fuel, don't drive. Simple. Feel for the passenger though.

[Lukeyson]

Wow ....... almost too silly for a darwin award

[Iggypoppin']

Some older cars you can do a "keybanger", which is shutting off the engine, pumping the accelerator, then turning back on. Anyone with a carby fed car, go try it if you hate your car, and you'll see why this kid might just have been showing off to the chickybabe at the wrong moment..
By the way I don't recomend anyone actually try this. The resultant bang is enough to rip your exhaust off...

[TS50]

well if that dosnt show the need for more speed cameras over better driver education, I dont know what will

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Trying to save on petrol it seems!

:-|

Well economy is just so so important, it almost justifies the accident.

[EFPWR]

Originally Posted by TS50

well if that dosnt show the need for more speed cameras over better driver education, I dont know what will

How would a speed camera stop someone turning their car off? O.o

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by TS50

well if that dosnt show the need for more speed cameras over better driver education, I dont know what will

Love it!

[TS50]

Originally Posted by EFPWR

How would a speed camera stop someone turning their car off? O.o

sorry, you missed my sarcasim
Govt answer to any accident is to isntall more speed cameras
they havent figured out that dosnt stop accidents and improve peoples ability behind the wheel

[Franco Cozzo]

The driving test teaches you how to do a three point turn, reverse park and navigate the road for 45 minutes. What is needed here is more education about cars.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

Well economy is just so so important, it almost justifies the accident.

How have you escaped Darwins influence for so long?

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by TS50

well if that doesn't show the need for more speed cameras over better driver education, I don't know what will

Nyuk nyuk, you cynic you:-)

[vztrt]

Will they have to put warning labels on cars that says 'do not remove key while driving'?

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

Well economy is just so so important, it almost justifies the accident.

Umm.... your gunna have to explain that one. Or is it just me that doesn't get it?

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR
Well economy is just so so important, it almost justifies the accident.

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Umm.... your gunna have to explain that one. Or is it just me that doesn't get it?

Sarcasm, that is all it is. . . . . .

[Burnout]

Simply remarkable.......... There must be at least some truth to all those rumours about Taswegions!

[burnz]

frank drebin police squad. (tasmainian)
drebin: anagram = inbred

[TS50]

hey be nice
not all tasmanians are darwins

[auxr]

Originally Posted by burnz

frank drebin police squad. (tasmainian)
drebin: anagram = inbred

Bwa haha ha - that's gold

Well pickle me granmother - I've seen & heard a bit, but this sad story surely takes the cake for blatant stupidity :togo:

[WILDB]

What a moron. No other way to say it.

Engine off = No power steering, no brake booster.

(shakes head)

[SM1DY]

Why couldn't the kid just chuck it in neutral and coast round the bend like a sain person.

[platinumXR]

...I...dunno what to say...um... :sm_drool:

[HUNTER8]

Makes you wonder what he had intended to do once he was around the bend.................restart the engine?????

[torbirdie]

Baffled! Im guessing the events of what happened are according to the surviving passengers.

I wonder if we got the whole story on what happened, did he turn the engine off and then had trouble restarting it and then perhaps turned the lock back to far and engaged the steering lock and then was wrestling with it and then the collision where the keys fell all the way out....who knows.

I can sense perhaps this will throw a new design rule for new cars upon us all, steering lock shouldnt be able to be engaged or keys removed when the vehicle is moving. I know on the nissan xtrail, you cant get the key out of the ignition unless the vehicle is in park......took me a while to work that one out.