Teen driving
Teen driving is a significant concern in the United States, primarily due to the high incidence of motor vehicle accidents among this age group. Each state has its own regulations regarding the age at which teens can obtain a driver's license and specific restrictions such as nighttime driving limits. These laws are intended to help teens gain experience behind the wheel while also protecting them from potential hazards on the road. Statistics highlight that automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers, with those aged sixteen to nineteen facing a notably higher risk of fatal crashes compared to other age groups. Factors contributing to these accidents include inexperience, distractions (such as texting and using a cell phone), and risky behavior like speeding or driving under the influence.
To mitigate these risks, graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs are implemented in all states, which gradually allow teens more driving privileges as they gain experience. Parents and organizations play a vital role in educating teens about safe driving practices through programs designed to raise awareness of the dangers associated with risky behaviors. Overall, the focus is on fostering safer driving habits among teens to ultimately reduce accidents and fatalities in this vulnerable demographic.
Teen driving
Each state in the United States has different laws and regulations regarding teenagers and driving. Requirements such as the age an individual can obtain a license and restrictions regarding nighttime driving vary from state to state. These laws are designed to ensure that teens gain enough experience before they receive their driver's license. These laws also aim to protect drivers from incidents that can occur while driving.
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified automobile accidents as a leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. The risk of being involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash is nearly three times higher for teens between the ages of sixteen and nineteen than any other age group.
Overview
Factors such as inexperience, distractions, the presence of others in a vehicle, use of alcohol or drugs, and not wearing a seat belt can lead to an increased rate of teen-related vehicle accidents.
Teens often do not have enough driving experience to navigate potentially hazardous situations or make split-second decisions when driving. They may take turns too sharply, veer off the road or into other lanes, or drive too fast. Research shows that teens are more likely to speed than older drivers, which can increase the odds of an accident. The presence of others in the vehicle—specifically males—usually increases the odds of risky driving. The use of alcohol and drugs also increases the likelihood of an accident among teens. Not wearing a seat belt also contributes to death and injury among teens in automobile accidents. Research shows that teens wear seat belts less often than older drivers. Distractions have led to many motor vehicle accidents among teens. Distractions include eating, talking with others, reading, talking on a cell phone, or texting while driving. The use of cell phones to make calls or send text messages is quickly becoming one of the biggest distractions while driving. Many states have enacted laws banning cell phone use while driving to help reduce the number of injuries and deaths caused by this distraction.
Preventing Vehicle Accidents
Parents, states, and organizations have taken steps to reduce teen deaths in motor vehicle accidents and help prevent teens from being injured or injuring others in these crashes. These groups (such as Mother Against Drunk Driving, or MADD) use public service announcements, advertising campaigns, driving programs, and more to educate teens about the risks associated with driving.
All states have graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws that require teen drivers to gain experience before they can obtain an unrestricted driver's license. These laws put restrictions on new drivers, which are gradually reduced as drivers gain experience and qualify for a license with full privileges.
The specifics of the GDL programs vary by state, but they are often split into three stages: learner, intermediate, and full privilege. Once a teen receives a driver's permit, they enter the learner stage. The driver must complete a specific number of supervised driving hours before they can obtain a provisional license. The intermediate stage restricts nighttime driving and the number of passengers provisional license holders can have. Once this stage ends—usually at age eighteen—the teen receives a standard driver's license with full privileges. Some states have other restrictions to help prevent teen vehicle crashes, including banning the use of cellphones while driving or limiting the number of passengers.
Parents should educate their teens about driving laws and set good examples by following these laws. They can enroll teens in driver education courses or specialized driving programs, which teach important driving skills. In addition, parents should set firm rules for their teens about driving, such as requiring them to always wear a seat belt, forbidding the use of alcohol and drugs, banning the use of cell phones, restricting nighttime driving, and limiting how many passengers can ride with the teen.
Some schools participate in programs in which teen drivers educate their peers about the risks associated with driving. Other organizations have designed graphic public service announcements and advertising campaigns to warn young drivers of the dangers of drunk driving, speeding, and texting while driving. The purpose of these programs is to ensure teens are educated about the risks involved with driving and help reduce teen accidents.
Bibliography
Copeland, Larry. "Strategies Aimed at Reducing Deaths among Young Motorists." USA Today. Gannett Co. Inc. 15 Mar. 2012. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-03-15/teen-driving-skills-license/53535564/1
"Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Laws." Governors Highway Safety Association. Governors Highway Safety Association. Dec. 2014. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/license‗laws.html
"Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen‗drivers/teendrivers‗factsheet.html
"Parents Are the Key to Safe Teen Drivers." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/ParentsAreTheKey/danger/index.html
"Teen Drivers." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 May 2024, www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/about/index.html. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
"Teen Drivers." Governors Highway Safety Association. Governors Highway Safety Association. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. http://ghsa.org/html/issues/teens/index.html