Driver Fatalities For Young Drivers

Everyone has felt that feeling where they cannot wait to learn how to drive and to get behind the wheel. Little do they know, driving causes a number of deaths every year. Teen drivers are involved in more car-related accidents than any other drivers. The minimum driving age should be raised from 16 to 18 because 16 year olds are more accident prone, 18 year olds are more experienced, and a 16 year old’s brain is not as developed as it is at 18 years old.

The article “Driving to The Funeral” by Anna Quindlen discusses the rite of passage when it comes to driving at sixteen and the risks that come with young drivers. The beginning of the article gives you a reminder of the major high school milestones that everyone hits, even the unfortunate ones. This is where the author jumps right into statistics of teen accident rates; (“…car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death among 15-to-20-year old’s in this country”). The purpose of the article is to take teen driving seriously as an accident can be lifechanging.

As teenagers are leaving their homes, cities, and in many cases, states, to attend colleges, driving has become an integral part in a teen’s life. However, many states are putting heavy restrictions on teen drivers to keep not only them safe, but the rest of the community as well. But that has not been enough- teen drivers still are a major problem on the road due partly to their lack of mental development. This has pushed some states to consider raising minimum driving age, eliminating the whole problem of inexperience in drivers. The minimum age should not raised, however, because it will not help the issue of road safety.

Statistics show that ‘in 2011, about 2,650 teens in the United States aged 16-19 were killed’ and almost 300,000 teens were severely injured from fatal crashes. Every day, 7 teens die from car crashes/injuries. Newly licensed drivers who are aged 16-19 are at a higher risk of fatal crashes than drivers aged 20 and over. As well, many of these crashes are caused by teens that text, talk, or drink and drive. Inexperienced drivers, who are many 16 -19 year olds in the United States cause higher insurance, accidents and crashes, and so, the legal driving age should be increased to 18.

In 2014, 2,270 teens in the U.S. ages 16-19 were killed and 221,313 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes. State legislature should raise minimum driving age from 16 to 18 because of the immaturity level of 16 year olds, responsibility, and they would be older and have more experience. If driving age was moved up it would make the roads a much safer place to be.

We as citizens today should do everything we can to protect our youth, after all they are the future leaders of America. As a mother of a teenager, I worry about when my teenager will begin driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [Online]. (2013). National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (producer). [Cited 2015 Oct 7]. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. We as citizens need to take an active role and do more to prevent our youth from being in harm’s way. Allowing our youth to begin driving on the roads at the age of 15 years, with a learner’s permit, we are allowing them to drive as an inexperience driver, a driver subject to distractions, and the age limit needs to be raised.

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.

One of the most anticipated moments in a teenager’s life is when they finally pass the driving exam and get to stare into their own fresh, gleaming, brand new driver’s license. This is certainly a life changing moment for any teenager, but not in the way they would expect. Sadly, car accidents with teens at fault cause more injuries and deaths than any other demographic in the world. While getting a license at 15 or 16 may be a commonplace milestone of the American way, the associated risks of having young teens driving without restriction are simply not worth the privilege of being able to drive at such an early age.

On July 2017, a Minnesota teen driver ran a red stop light ending the life of a father and his 10 year old daughter all because she was texting behind the wheel. Unfortunately, stories like this are happening way too often all over the country making motor vehicle crashes the leading cause of death for teens in the US. These situations have sparked the debate of whether or not the legal driving age should be raised. As a teenager, driving can seem like the most important part of your life. Growing up is hard enough, and as teenagers lead busy lives packed with sports, volunteer work, paid jobs and hobbies, driving can seem like a way of improving their everyday life. However, with teen driving comes the horrors of reality. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015, “2,333 teens were killed and 221,313 were treated in emergency departments due to injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes.” Many people argue that these crashes are the cause of teens immaturity, inexperience, poor judgment, and the lack of the brains full development. Many government websites including “Kids Live Safe Organization” and “Department of Motor Vehicles” have taken the steps to tackle this problem by urging parents to talk to their children about how to be safe on the road. These websites have accomplished the job of informing parents of the dangers of irresponsible driving however the deaths continue to rise. There is no doubt that something has to change before more

Earning a driver’s license is most important for most young Americans, but teens are the ones with poor driving performance. According to “traffic safety facts” (22) in 2008: 5,864 15-20-year-old drivers were involved in dangerous crashes. Teens are proven to have road rage. Teens, in fact, love to drive at night with other teens speeding through the streets. Statistics show that young people ages 15-20 can make up the total percent of the driving population. 14 percent are involved in dangerous crashes. This percentage of crashes needs to be reduced. The only possible way to upturn the level of maturity when it comes to driving a car would be the age of an eighteen-year-old.

Many people might assume that young drivers, ages 15-20, might be more likely to get into car accidents. Young individuals are less experienced, not only in driving, but in all walks of life. Their lack of experience combined with the fact that they are also more likely to give in to peer pressure, puts them into dangerous situations when they are behind the wheel. Considering that driving is one of the most dangerous activities we engage in on a regular basis, certainly we should do everything in our power to promote safe driving habits. However, recent studies have shown that the tougher laws for getting a license has reduced the amount of deadly accidents amongst 16 year olds.

In a country with more than 2.95 million people milling about, we're bound to bump into each other at some point. Sometimes the effects are loud and a bit too devastating, but raising the state's driving age from 16 to 18 is still an idea borne of bureaucracy and not wisdom.Yes, our youngest happen to do most of the bumping and crunching out on the roadways, but that is still no reason to take away a privilege they have anticipated for years.As with most things, driving is a skill that has to be learned. It's not a textbook exercise, but one that develops as experience builds. People can be told how to maintain control of their car, but until that roadside hedge nearly becomes a catcher's mit, nothing truly substantive can be learned.Tough

The Graduated Driver Licensing Program is great but on the other hand it has lead to a rise in the death of 18-year-old by car accidents. "Some argue that introducing driving later leaves less time for learning, and it would just lead to inexperienced 18-year-old drivers rather than inexperienced 16-year-old drivers". Drivers that have plenty of distractions is more likely to be in an accident than a GDL Driver.

There are many signs that point out the flaws of having the age of sixteen as the minimum age for driving. The likelihood of an accident for teenagers is great because of the young driving age. Insurance companies keep records on the possibilities that the driver will be in an accident. The probability for young drivers are shown in the insurance rate in that age group between the ages of sixteen to twenty-five. Not to mention that many auto insurance companies urge for a higher minimum driving age. According to a research

The legal driving age has been a constant debate and is a growing question across America as well as other countries around our globe. Each year the percentage of teenage accidents involving automobiles rises. Whether it’s caused by the lack of experience or under the influence of alcohol, death is a big problem on the roads. Teenagers are allowed to get their licenses at an earlier age than in most countries, and little driving experience typically is required before licenses are issued. If the driving age is raised, only the age group of the inexperienced drivers would change, but it wouldn’t reduce the number of accidents. Although this is true for some young adults, there are immature people of all ages. The reason why there are so