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.
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
"Distracted Driving." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 6 Mar. 2013.
In 2013, more than 2,500 teenagers died in the United States from motor vehicle crash injuries. Such injuries are by far the leading public health problem for young people 13-19 years old (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety [IIHS], 2014). Drivers are not the only ones at risk. Teenagers who are passengers in others vehicles make up a startling 87% of the fatality statistic. Lack of driving experience, disregard for traffic laws, and quick access to full driving privileges contribute to teen death. To reduce teen driving fatalities, successful completion of driver education classes provided by public and private schools should be mandatory for all teenagers prior to receiving their driving permit.
“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
One way we can reduce these problems is to give law enforcement more means to stop the problem, we need to toughen our state laws to reduce the high number of crashes each year, and teens need good role models and strong drivers education course to teach them of the dangers of distracted driving before they get into the bad habits themselves. that we need to get rid of because every year the death rate of distracted driving goes up. Teens are seeing their parents doing it and they think it's ok when it’s
Arizona is one of four states that has yet to put a law against distracted driving into effect. The definition of distracted driving is defined as the practice of driving a motor vehicle while engaged in another activity. 21% of fatal accidents involving a teen driver were caused by distracted driving. Do these statistics confirm that a harsh distracted driving law need to be in effect or should it be a personal responsibility of oneself or the parents of young drivers. As more states create distracted driving laws the number of deaths each year are still rising meaning that these law that are being set are not fixing the issue and are seemingly making it worse. Distracted driving should be a personal responsibility and not a law that needs
Teens need to be taught that driving is a task that is complex and demanding. Parents know how much experience a young driver has, and they know exactly how inconvenient it is when they have to drive with their teen everywhere while they have their permit. Teens tend to cause most traffic accidents in adults’ eyes. They are not experienced yet, and often fail to pay attention to others on the road. They often think of a car as being some type of toy, but they do not know how powerful it really is. The driver education programs must be strengthened in order to make sure that students really have safer habits, behind the wheel experience, and by having a better understanding of all the laws on the road.
When many think of distracted driving, they automatically recognize texting behind the wheel as the main factor, which is true. However, distracted driving comes in all kinds of forms such as talking on the phone, eating, and even grooming (like applying makeup) when driving. Doing such simple tasks can take away your focus from the road, which can lead to devasting consequences of being in an accident (that can even prove fatal to you or others). As according to the NHTSA, an estimate of 387,000 people were injured in accidents involving distracted drivers in 2011, and the number rose higher in 2012 by increasing by 34,000. Can the Public Service announcement prevent these numbers from rising any more? Launching awareness campaigns and educating
Teenagers dream of the day when they will receive their license and take a step closer to independence and gaining freedom from their parents. It is the rite of passage that many fifteen-year old yearn for. We count the days to our 16th birthday, waiting to make a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles to receive our permit. It is exciting, exhilarating and just the mere thought of racing down the country roads make our spine tingle...Freedom! We all remember those months leading up to getting our permits but in those first days behind the wheel do we think about the number of deaths and accidents that occur due to teen driving? The number of families destroyed, futures cut short all because that excitement we feel takes us over and
One of the biggest rites of passages in the United States at the age of 16 is obtaining a driver’s license. The freedom to roam the open road and explore the world around you in most cases is a joyous occasion. At 16, a young inexperienced driver is constantly conveyed that driving is a privilege and one must use caution or that privilege will be taken away. However, over the past few years one of the growing problems in United States not only affects young drivers but drivers of all ages. Distracted driving is a growing problem in the United States that affects not only people of all ages but race, and gender as well.
“ Distracted driving kills” ( Distracted driving7). Distracted driving affects people of all ages but, “ our youngest and most inexperienced drivers are most at risk” ( Distracted driving7). This happens as soon as a person enters their vehicle and start to drive. Their eyes begin to go off the road which soon causes a head to head collision. Later on as technology improves and advances, cell phones have become the most common type of distracted driving such as eating or drinking or watching videos on their phone for an example, “ because text messaging requires visual, manual and conductive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarm distraction” (Distracted driving 5). This shows that many are risking their life and others around
People texting and driving cause them or other people to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars. Whether it is on repairs or tickets or even hospital bills. 1 out of every 4 accidents in the United States are caused by distracted drivers ("Texting and Driving Accident Statistics - Distracted Driving"). Do you really know how dangerous texting and driving is? People texting and driving can cause many bad things but, can be solved by having more laws and higher fees.
First, schooling teens in distracted driving won't be enough to change their habits. Drs. Coben says, “Young drivers are at greatest risk, both because they use cell phones more than older drivers, and because they are inexperienced behind the wheel." This is why teens are being piled with statistics and information all through intermediate, middle, and high school, but does this really make a difference? Many of our young people are becoming rebellious to the repeated efforts to inform them of apparent-or rather ensuing-danger. It makes you wonder whether or not
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