Conformity To Risk-Taking

An extreme number of research and data have pointed out that teens are not equipped with safe driving skills. These numbers have lead to countless arguments between teens and adults. All though teens are more interested in their phone then a car they still have a desire to get onto the road. The car offers an immense amount of self conscious and maturity to a teen. This is one of the main points as to why teens are so eager to get out on the road as soon as possible. If and when they do get on the road they look right past the consequences that may occur with driving at such a young age. Without a doubt teenage drivers are very inexperienced when it comes to their first trips on the road because the only prior training they can get is practice

Palk, G., Freeman, J., Kee, A., Steinhardt, D., & Davey, J. (2011). The prevalence and characteristics of self-reported dangerous driving behaviours among a young cohort. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 14, 147-154.

Copeland’s article is meant to inform parents of their effects on teen’s driving behaviors. Their actions behind the wheel let their children know what is okay to do and what is not. If parents are aware of this then it would help them try to set a good example. This academic journal is a reliable source that comes from the database Academic Search Elite, provided by school’s online database systems.

“The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16 to 19 year olds than among any other age group.” (Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet 1) “The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. The risk increases with the number of teen passengers.” (Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet 1) In the United States motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause death in teens. “In 2010, seven teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries.” (Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet 2) This alarming number of casualties could be prevented by educating our teenage drivers prior to them being on their own and operating a couple ton weighing

Evidence from the personal experience of teenagers is used (“…young drivers, only half said they had seen a peer drive after drinking…nearly all, however, said they had witnessed speeding…”); collective evidence (“It’s become a sad rite of passage in many American communities”); statistics (“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that neophyte drivers of 17 have about a third as many accidents as their counterparts only a year younger”) and (“Between July 2004 and November 2006, only 12 provisional drivers were tickets for carrying too many passengers”). The author also used common mores on teen safety; (“…parents will tell you that raising the driving age is untenable, that kids need their freedom…perhaps the only ones who won’t make a fuss are those parents who have accepted diplomas at graduation because their children were no longer alive to do

Multiple studies and surveys show how deadly a vehicle can be when the driver is a teen. Teenagers are given a responsibility at the age of sixteen that they are simply not ready for. They lack the ability to stay focused on the road, and often times get distracted by cell phones or other objects inside the car that more experienced drivers know to avoid. Fortunately, the negative impact that teen driving presents can be altogether halted. Teens can find alternative ways of transit such as buses or asking family members for a ride. Mandatory driving programs can be implemented which focus on helping teens prove they can be responsible, trustworthy drivers. Most importantly, the legal driving age can be adjusted to twenty one to ensure all drivers retain the right knowledge for safe

Throughout the year of 2011, about 2,650 teens in the United States between the age of sixteen and nineteen were killed and almost 292,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries involved with motor-vehicle accidents (“Teen Drivers: Get the Facts” par. 2). Basically, seven teens die every day from motor-vehicle injuries. The risks of these accidents are becoming higher each year among the teen age group. Research has shown, teens in the United States between sixteen and nineteen have a fatality rate four times higher than adults twenty five to twenty nine (Cole, Wendy). Teens are more likely to underestimate dangerous situations or not even recognize a hazardous situation. Distractions of cell phones, impaired driving due to alcohol, and lack of experience due to brain development contribute to motor- vehicle accidents caused from teen drivers.

Teen driver’s affect other people on the road by speeding for a show, distractions from the cell phone, or the radio, and texting and driving.

There was another student death as a result of a car accident in 2011. It is a common fact that teen drivers have higher accident instance rates than their adult counterparts, due to a plethora of factors. First, teen drivers have not been driving for as long and do not have all of the experience that adult drivers have. Also, the incidence rate of accidents increases with the amount of teen passengers in the car. In a study done by the Center for Research and Policy at Johns Hopkins University researchers found that, “The highest death rate (5.61 per 10 million trips) was observed among drivers aged 16 years carrying 3 or more passengers” (Chen). Because of the multiple deaths and injuries caused by traveling to canning destinations, as well as the fact that Penn State students are a high-risk population for car accidents, it’s unsurprising that safety concerns are shared by Penn State administration members, parents, and students alike.

The national Highway traffic safety Administrations state that “In 2008, 12 percent (5,864) of all drivers involved in fatal crashes (50,186) were young drivers of age 15 to 20 years old. Also that 14 percent (1,429,000) of all drivers involved in police-reported crashes (10,081,000) were young drivers.” It’s a small fraction compared to the fatal crashed made by people between the ages of 25 and 54. However, between the ages of 21 and 24 have the third least fatal crashes made. It is concluded that after a certain point in time of learning and experience on the road that one can get better. Sometimes a person needs to be able to drive at a younger age, and not only to

Teens tend to be safer drivers then their middle-aged counter parts. The number of 15-20-year-old drivers in 2008 in single-vehicle crashes made up 14%, multi-vehicle was 10.4%, and 15-20year old drivers made up 11.9% of all fatal crashes; while the more middle aged 25-34year old drivers consisted of 20.9% for single vehicle crashes, 19% of all multi-vehicle crashes, and 19.8% of all fatal crashes, immensely higher stats then the teen drivers. This shows that teens are by far safer drivers then the middle aged, mature, adults.

Risk-taking involves making decisions with uncertain good or bad effects. Risk taking among teenagers has psychological and physiological determinants. The most common psychological factors that result to harmful risk-taking are acting brave, not caring for the outcome of one’s actions, thinking that oneself is resistant to harm, wanting to belong to a group, being scared not to take risks, and wanting to feel thrills and excitement.

One of the main reasons that teenagers are involved in accidents and commit traffic violations is that when teenagers start driving, they are inexperienced. According to The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), “crash rates are highest during the first 500 miles of driving” (The Anatomy 1). This means that due to the inexperience of teenagers, there are more crashes during the early teenage years of driving and the number of crashes decline as they gain experience. Furthermore, countries in which the legal age to obtain a driver’s license is 18 or above, there are a higher number of crashes in early years of driving (Anatomy 1). This research supports that “practice makes perfect,” meaning that as teenagers practice driving, they gain experience and

Teen drivers have the mentality were they are untouchable when behind the wheel. But it’s obviously to much to handle for them because when it comes to the facts to many teens die a year. In 2007, 4,200 teens in the U.S aged from 15-17 were killed and 400,000 were treated in the E.R for injuries because of car accidents (“Motor vehicle safety, Teen Drivers, page 1”). This just shows how irresponsible teens are while driving. In a national survey 12.5% of all high school students rarely wear seatbelts, this just asking too get hurt in case an accident happens (“Motor vehicle safety, Teen Drivers, page 1”). This just shows how teens have a bad mentality while driving. In 2005, 54% of teen deaths occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. This statistic shows that one more reason why a teen would want there license is to get to a party or go

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and young adults. More than 5,000 young people die every year in car crashes and thousands more are injured. Drivers who are 16 years old are more than 20 times as likely to have a crash, as are other drivers. There are two main reasons why teens are at a higher for being in a car crash and lack of driving experience and their tendency to take risks while driving. Teens drive faster and do not control the car as well as more experienced drivers. Their judgment in traffic is often insufficient to avoid a crash. In addition, teens do most of their driving at night, which can be even more difficult. Standard driver's education classes include 30 hours of classroom teaching and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training. This is not enough time to fully train a new driver. Teen drivers are more like to be influence by peers and other stresses and distractions. This can lead to reckless driving behaviors such as speeding, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and not wearing safety belts. There is no safe amount that you can drink and still drive. Even one drink can influence your driving offences. “Nowadays, drunk driving has become driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired, driving while under the influence, operating while under the influence (impaired, intoxicated, or whatever), and in many