Young Drivers, Not Dangerous Drivers
Drivers ed Initiative Award – Summer 2019
Name: Pamela Irish
From: Lakeland, Florida
Votes: 55
Receiving
a driver’s license is one the most significant benchmarks in a
teenager’s life. Unfortunately, poor driving education has left
many teenagers and their friends injured or dead. A few examples of
steps that can be taken to protect drivers while on the road include:
keeping cell phones out of reach, and avoiding purposeful risky
behavior. Personally, I have seen both family members and friends
drive irresponsibly because of fatigue or illness. In order to help
young drivers, become safer on the road, education needs to begin
earlier1.
Young drivers would also benefit from hearing from other young
people about their dangerous driving experiences. While receiving a
driver’s license rewards the freedom many teenagers yearn for, lack
of education, behavior, and impaired driving have inflicted their
costs.
Poor
driving education has affected many young drivers. A study which
followed nearly 200,000 young drivers found that “driver’s
education reduces crashes and traffic violations among new drivers”2,
and “young
drivers who have not completed drivers ed are 75 percent more
likely to get a traffic ticket, 24 percent more likely to be involved
in a fatal or injury accident”2.
While drivers ed courses have improved over the last
decade, several places have minimal drivers ed courses. For
example, Arkansas has no drivers ed requirements and one of
the youngest driving ages at fourteen, and ranks number five for the
most car accidents, 10,000 of which are fatal.3
Steps
can be taken to reduce the number of accident related deaths.
Keeping phones out of the driver’s sight would reduce the
temptation to text, use social media, or take selfies while driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as
of 2017 over 3,000 people died in phone related car crashes4.
Risky behavior and peer pressure have the potential to negatively
affect teenage drivers. Young drivers are more likely to be safe
drivers when with an adult or parent. However, statistics have shown
that 55 percent of fatal teen crashes had other teens in the car5.
Personally,
I have seen family members and friends drive irresponsibly. When my
father began to fall asleep behind the wheel, I told him to move so I
could take over. I have had friends get into car crashes and seen
them drive recklessly both on their own and with other teenagers in
their car. In my school’s parking lot students regularly speed
through the lot.
In
order to help young drivers, drive safely they need to be exposed to
the consequences earlier on. Since, young people listen to each
other well they should be encouraged to share their dangerous driving
experiences with each other. By both exposing and sharing with young
drivers what makes driving dangerous they can grow earlier and
together.
In
conclusion, young drivers do not have to be dangerous drivers. By
using proper teaching technique, avoiding distractions and harmful
behaviors, and helping young drivers grow earlier and with each
other; teenagers can become safer drivers and help reduce the number
of crashes and fatalities.
Works
Cited
4[email protected].
“U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” NHTSA, 8 May 2019,
www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving.
1Berg,
H-Y. “Reducing crashes and injuries among young drivers: what kind
of prevention should we be focusing on?.” Injury prevention :
journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury
Prevention vol. 12 Suppl 1,Suppl 1 (2006): i15-8.
doi:10.1136/ip.2006.012062
Department
of Health & Human Services. “Safe Driving.” Better Health
Channel, Department of Health & Human Services, 27 Jan. 2017,
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/Safe-driving.
5Frisman,
Paul. TEEN DRIVING BEHAVIOR, www.cga.ct.gov/2010/rpt/2010-R-0353.htm.
3“The
Most Dangerous States for Car Accidents.” Nwitimes.com, 26 Aug.
2018,
www.nwitimes.com/autos/the-most-dangerous-states-for-car-accidents/collection_44bc28fd-4a18-5d36-9adf-2cb844071634.html#47.
2University
of Nebraska-Lincoln. “Study: Drivers Ed Significantly Reduces Teen
Crashes, Tickets.” Study: Drivers Ed Significantly Reduces Teen
Crashes, Tickets | News Releases | University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
newsroom.unl.edu/releases/2015/08/13/Study: Drivers ed significantly
reduces teen crashes, tickets.
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