“Driving is a Privilege, not a Right”

Lauren Poythress

It is critical to provide comprehensive driver education programs that focus on risk assessment, defensive driving, and the dangers of distracted driving. This can be done in schools, with practical sessions in simulators and real-life circumstances. The real-world component brings the driving experience to life and adds a greater sense of awareness and enjoyment to the learning process.

For decades, the issues that develop when teens get behind the wheel have been a subject of concern. A number of groups, including parents, researchers, insurance companies, and legislators, have questioned these practices. When they reach the age of 14, more than 91 percent of adolescents use a cell phone, and nearly 90 percent use social media. As a result, it should come as no surprise that deaths arising from teen driving are becoming more common among new drivers. Surprisingly, the majority of adolescents nowadays have a cell phone with them at all times in case of an unexpected emergency or a car accident.

When teens are given the opportunity to drive, they gain a substantial amount of independence as well as responsibility. In turn, neither the kids, their parents, nor law enforcement officers should make this decision lightly. Car accident death rates for youths aged 16 to 19 have been shown to be four times greater than those for drivers aged 25 to 69. This can be linked to a variety of distractions, as well as a lack of driving experience. To reduce unsafe driving practices, we must raise awareness of the risks among both young drivers and their parents. Preventative interventions, regulatory modifications, and policy changes could all go a long way toward lowering these alarmingly increasing rates. At this time, we have some effective safeguards in place; however, the duration of these precautions is not long enough, and they are not as strict as they should be. Most states now have some kind of staggered driving levels. These programs allow teenagers to demonstrate that they are mature enough to operate a motor vehicle by gradually increasing their independence throughout the course of the program. By extending the time that minors can have their learner’s permit, they may be able to gain the necessary additional driving experience when accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult. This allows for immediate one-on-one feedback on their driving performance, which can praise or correct as needed.

Curfews make it illegal for teenagers under the age of 18 to drive between the hours of midnight and four a.m. in several states. When a teen develops experience behind the wheel, they should be able to gradually work their way up to a later curfew time under a tiered system. When a person reaches the age of 16, a curfew of 10:00 p.m. may be imposed. Some argue that the majority of after-school activities and part-time jobs for teenagers should be completed by 10 a.m., while others argue that it is too early. If the driver is 17 years old and has a one-year clean driving record, the curfew time may be extended to 11 p.m. Finally, for drivers who are 18 years old and have at least one and a half years of safe driving experience, the curfew may be set at midnight.

A newly licensed teen driver is only allowed to drive a specific number of passengers who are not immediate family members. When you’re a teen, the more people in the car, the more likely you are to be distracted while driving. The driver’s ability to focus on the road is compromised, not to mention the FOMO (fear of missing out) on what his friends are doing in the back seat, which is usually making Tik Toks or goofing off. Dangerous activity is more likely to occur in the late hours of the night or with a car full of friends. Extending this passenger limitation until the driver is at least 18 years old and has been accident and moving violation free for at least one year, similar to graduated curfew periods, might be an effective approach of lowering the danger of distracted driving.

Texting and adjusting music on a phone while driving are two key distractions for teen drivers. Even though many newer cars have Apple CarPlay or other music and media devices, they don’t totally restrict the ability to change the music or send texts. It is based on the assumption that the passenger, rather than the driver, may be the one using the phone while the vehicle is in drive. To discourage this type of activity, public service announcements (PSAs) should be created and posted by famous social media celebrities. These popular personalities are referred to as influencers for a reason. Since they have millions of followers, there is a good probability that the message will reach a large audience of teenagers.

Technology and cell phones are not always a bad thing when it comes to teen driving. App developers have created various safe driver apps that can be downloaded on a teen’s phone. These apps can be monitored by parents to ensure their teen is driving safely. They allow parents to disable a teen’s phone while driving, as well as giving them the capability to monitor their speed, hard braking, texting, social media use and other safety issues. The downfall to these apps is that unless parents are willing to give consequences for violating these safety rules, the apps will be useless. Thankfully, I have never had to deal with the consequences of distracted driving, but I am well aware of the devastating impact it has on the lives of others when it occurs. My parents have the Life360 app that tells them how fast I am driving, or if I’m a passenger, how fast they are driving. Once, I was in the car with a friend who was driving 23 miles over the speed limit. I was in the backseat with another friend and we didn’t even realize it. My mom texted me to tell him to slow down. I was never allowed in the car with him again. Although embarrassed to tell him that, I knew that it was my mom just being a mom and making sure that I am safe at all times. By establishing rules, parents can outline their expectations for their teen driver. If those expectations aren’t met, parents must give consequences to their teen. The most impactful lessons teens can learn are through parental guidance. As parents model good driving habits, teens will gain a better understanding of their expectations. The influence of parental behavior, expectations, values and beliefs are going to be the most effective ways to deter teen distracted driving. As my dad says, “driving is a privilege, not a right.” I consider myself lucky to be able to drive. I made a promise to myself and to my parents that I would respect the law, respect the safety of myself and others, and respect their rules and expectations of me.