Teens may count down the days until they get their driver’s license, but their parents and other drivers grip their steering wheels a little harder when they think about 16- and 17-year-olds taking to the roads.
In 2010, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that seven teens between the ages of 16 and 19 died each day in car accidents across the United States. These teenage drivers are three times more likely to get into a crash than any other age group. With those harrowing statistics, it’s no wonder more than a few parents are nervous about letting their kids get behind the wheel for the first time.
Teen drivers are the demographic with the highest rate of motor vehicle accidents in Florida. In 2012, more than 22,000 Florida teens were in car accidents. 41 of those teens lost their lives. As of October 15th this year, 35 teens had already died in Florida car crashes.
Because the holiday season is a particularly dangerous time for driving, it seems sadly possible that this year’s number of teen driver deaths will be higher than last year’s.
Why Are Teens Such a High Risk Group?
Part of the reason teens are such a high risk group for car accidents is simply because they are inexperienced. They may inadvertently practice dangerous driving habits, such as tailgating or staying in the car’s blind spot, because they haven’t spent enough time on the road to know how risky those behaviors can be.
Distracted driving is another major risk factor for teen drivers. Texting or talking on cell phones, playing music athigh volume, eating behind the wheel, and talking with passengers are all common distractions that take teenager’s attention off the road. Teenage passengers not only distract, but also impact drivers to make bad choices. A 2005 study found that the presence of male teenage passengers increases the chances of risky driving behavior.
Drivers of all ages are at higher risk of getting into a car accident after drinking, but studies have shown that the risk for teens who drink and drive is even higher than for other age groups. Teens may feel more pressured to drive under the influence because they might not want to call their parents for a ride and admit they’ve been drinking, or because they are more susceptible to peer pressure.Whatever the reason, 22% of teens involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents in 2010 had been drinking.
National Teen Driving Programs
Fatal teen car accidents have been making headlines for years, and several major national programs are working to combat the problem by providing a better driving education for young drivers. The non-profit organization B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) has partnered with Kia to provide free, hands-on defensive driving training to teens across the United States. Lessons educate students on the dangers of distracted driving and give teens practice with things like evasive maneuvering, emergency braking using the anti-lock braking system, and skid-control practice.
National Teen Driver Safety Week, which takes place in October, is an effort to better educate teens, parents, and teachers about safe driving practices. This past year’s theme was It Takes Two: Shared Expectations for Parents and Teens for Driving, and that prompt inspired safe driving campaigns in thousands of schools and communities across the country.
Efforts Being Made in Florida
Many states have specific regulations in place to help protect novice drivers. In Florida, teens are required to have their learner’s permit for a full year, during which time they need to complete a minimum of 50 supervised driving hours, including 10 night driving hours. After completing their hours and passing their driving test, they earn their driver’s license, but cannot drive between the hours of 11 pm and 6 am. When teen drivers turn 18, the night-time driving restrictions are lifted.
Beyond that, it also makes sense for parents to impose their own “graduated driving privileges.” For one, they could limit their newly-licensed teen to driving only during daylight hours. Or preclude their teen from transporting passengers, especially teen passengers, until they develop into more experienced drivers. Beyond the restrictions, today’s technology including phone apps include many safety-related ones that parents might consider placing on their teen’s phone.
Campaigns by the Florida Highway Patrol aim to bring greater awareness to the risks of distracted driving and to drive without a seatbelt. By making teens more aware of the problems, the Highway Patrol hopes to encourage novice drivers to take extra precautions when they get on the road.
Defensive driving classes, regulations on young drivers, and public service announcements are a good start in the fight to prevent teen motor vehicle accidents, but Florida and the rest of the country need to do more in order to see significant reductions in the rates of teen car crashes. The B.R.A.K.E.S. program is operating in many cities across the United States right now, but this kind of program needs to be accessible for all teen drivers. By better preparing teens for potentially hazardous driving situations, we’ll make our roads safer for everyone.
Featured images:
Royalty Free or iStock source: 123rf.com
Royalty Free or iStock source: 123rf.com
Royalty Free or iStock source: 123rf.com
Authored By:
Attorney Jeffrey A. Luhrsen credits his military career with the work ethic, integrity, and tenacity that drives his career as a personal injury attorney. Having garnered numerous academic awards and scholarships during college and law school, Mr. Luhrsen has continued to earn accolades throughout his career, including a Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating, the highest rating an attorney can achieve in legal ability and ethical standards. He has been in private practice since 1998 with a focus on tort claims and insurance disputes. Luhrsen Law Group, based in Sarasota, Florida, is proud to be a family-owned firm that helps Florida families recover after serious injuries and from legal wrongs.
Not Another Statistic: New Programs Combat Teen Car Accidents is a post from: The Complete Lawyer