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Women & Families
Teen Driver Safety Series, Part Two
Risk Factors for New Drivers
By Scott Memmer
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In our first installment in
this series, we presented an overview of the challenges and concerns of the new
driver experience. In doing so, we touched briefly upon the main risk factors
facing teen drivers.
Because this problem is so vexing, we feel the need to expand
upon this theme. Therefore, in our second installment, let's take a closer look
at the factors that put new drivers at risk. This will set the stage for chapter
three, which will deal with education and potential solutions.
What, then, are the major obstacles facing new drivers? Why are their accident
and fatality rates so high?
Consider, for instance, the following facts:
- Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death in people age 13 to 19. They account for roughly one-third of all fatalities in this age group.
- People age 16 to 19 have the highest traffic-related fatality rate of any age group.
- In 2001, teens made up 10 percent of the U.S. population, and were involved in 13 percent of motor vehicle deaths.
- Traffic accidents are
the leading cause of disability and spinal cord injuries among youth.
- The younger the driver, the higher the risk. More teen fatalities occur when a 16 year-old is driving than when a person of any other age is at the wheel.
With these sobering statistics
as a backdrop, let's take a look at the factors endangering our young drivers.
Inexperience Though this may seem obvious on its face, it bears repeating.
Young drivers simply don't have the behind-the-wheel experience necessary to understand
the dynamics associated with driving a motor vehicle. There's a vast difference
between riding in the passenger seat and being behind the wheel. Generally, when
it comes to driving, age and experience lends a certain "street-savviness" to
the endeavor. (Although this is not always the case. We see examples on the freeway
almost every day of "seasoned" drivers who could use a refresher course.)
Bravado In the Shakespeare play "Henry the Fourth, Part I," there's a minor
character called Hotspur. Hotspur, as his name implies, has a very short fuse
-- he's always running around getting into other people's faces, challenging them
to duels, that sort of thing. He's the embodiment of callow youth.
Something similar occurs when a young person gets behind the wheel of a car. They
think they can slay any dragon, crush any obstacle. Young people are like that,
which is why generals send them off to war to serve as cannon fodder. While this
may be desirable on the battlefield, it's dangerous behind the wheel of a car.
Speeding and Racing Teen drivers also have a tendency to drive too fast.
This, combined with inexperience and bravado, sometimes leads them to make poor driving decisions.
Drugs and Alcohol As if things aren't risky enough on our highways and
byways, young drivers often mix alcohol and drugs with their driving. Consider
the following:
In 2001, 26 percent of 16-20 year-old drivers fatally injured in crashes had blood alcohol concentrations of .08 percent or more.
While teen substance abuse
has been a concern for decades, mixing it with motor vehicles has particularly
lethal side effects. It's dangerous enough for teens to ingest substances that
alter perception and reaction times; doing it behind the wheel of a car is almost
suicidal. Statistics indicate that this activity shows some signs of abating,
but the numbers are still too high.
No seatbelts Almost equally suicidal is the refusal to wear seatbelts.
According to NHTSA, approximately 41 percent of young people who die in passenger vehicle crashes are not wearing seatbelts. Whether this harkens back to the "invulnerable
youth" illusion or some other misapprehension of reality, it's impossible to change
Newton's laws. An object in motion tends to remain in motion — i.e., if you're
not belted during an accident event you will go through the windshield.
On this point, we at Edmunds.com wish to issue a plea to all parents. The surest
way to prevent your child from dying in an automobile accident is to be a good
example and buckle your own seatbelt. They will follow suit. Children, like most
human beings, learn through imitation.
Choice of Vehicle Because most young people have fewer resources than more
mature Americans, they often drive older cars that may lack some of the latest
safety equipment — airbags, ABS, traction control and the like. This makes
them more vulnerable in accident situations. Second, because their vehicles are
older, they may have more service issues that compromise their safety, such as
worn brakes, tired shocks, bald tires, and so on. Lastly, to save money, young
people often choose economy boxes and small pickups, which have smaller crumple
zones and fewer safety features.
Too many passengers This last point is frequently overlooked, but has drawn
attention recently. In a new study conducted by Johns Hopkins University School
of Hygiene and Public Health, researchers discovered that the risk of deadly accidents
among young drivers rose sharply with each additional passenger.
The study, which looked at the driving habits of 16- and 17-year-old drivers,
revealed a strong correlation between the number of passengers in a car and the
risk of a fatal wreck. For example, a 16 year old with three or more passengers
faces nearly three times the risk of a fatal wreck as one driving alone.
The study also found that young drivers are much more likely to engage in dangerous
activates -- drinking or using drugs, speeding, swerving, running red lights --
when in the presence of their peers.
So serious is this correlation that several states, with California leading the
way, have instituted passenger limits for young drivers. In the Golden State,
for example, 16- and 17-year-old drivers must wait six months before legally carrying
teen passengers.
In conclusion... Teen drivers face a myriad of dangers when they get behind
the wheel. We've mentioned the main ones here, although this is by no means an
exhaustive list.
In our next installment, we'll take a closer look at some of the legal restrictions
being placed on teen drivers by various states. We'll also discuss our "challenged"
drivers education system and some innovative approaches to driver's training.
We've placed links below to all of the installments in this series.
Teen Driver Safety Series,
Part One: Young Drivers at Risk
Teen Driver Safety Series, Part Two: Risk Factors for New Drivers
Teen Driver Safety Series, Part Three: The (Mis) Education of American Drivers
Teen Driver Safety Series, Part Four: A Car for Your Teen
Teen Driver Safety Series, Part Five: 10 Tips for Keeping Your Teen Driver Safe
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