3a – Teen Drivers Facts
3a – TEEN DRIVERS FACTS
Welcome to the world of adulthood!
From a parent’s point of view, it is far more difficult and frightening than before to insulate kids from Danger. They can no longer protect their children as they become more rebellious to supervision, and children may not be ready to understand the gravity of their actions and the full impact of the consequences.
Driving is a very serious matter and maybe the first real adult experiment a teen has to face. Like young birds deploying their wings for the first time, they have to gain confidence in themselves. Although they are not yet recognized as an adult by law, they are now on their own and they must realize they have to take Driving VERY seriously.
a) Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for people aged 16 and 17.
b) Teen drivers are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal traffic accident than adults.
c) 16-year old drivers are approximately 3 times more likely to be involved in a traffic accident than 17-year old drivers and 5 times more likely to be in an accident than 18-year of age or more.
Experts estimate that driving consists of 50 percent physical skill and 50 percent mental ability.
It means that you not only need to be in shape but also being smart enough to remember and apply safety rules, avoid dangerous maneuvers or not doing stupid things like challenges or dare, and not responding to road rage.
PERMIT TO DRIVE A DEADLY WEAPON
Young drivers have to face and accept their responsibility to drive and be fully aware that they are holding their own life and the life of their passengers in their hands, as they are indeed DRIVING A DEADLY WEAPON!
They must understand, especially young males, that they can no longer have a kid attitude like “showing off” or the desire to look “cool” or “grown-up” while driving. They are grown-up already, possibly too fast, but the reality is that they will soon be holding their own life in their hands as well as one of their passengers.
YOU ARE IN CHARGE NOW SO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY
Regarding the Law, you may not be a full grown-up adult yet but you are now responsible and it has the same value regarding your actions and consequences.
You will look more grown-up and responsible for refusing a beer before driving or admitting that you are getting tired of driving and need some rest rather than pushing the limits.
Do not respond to “I dare you” demands or any other dangerous challenge. You want to be a grown-up, be a grown-up, leave these stupid games to kids.
NEVER PUSH YOUR LIMITS WHEN DRIVING:
For many years I have been a trans-continental 18-wheeler trucker myself in Europe, Ski-School bus driver in the Alps with ice-and-snow rally-racing training, ambulance driver, over-sized convoy pilot, and heavy-load cranes delivery in Paris with 50 years of driving on record with no accident (but many near ones). I have seen many accidents first-hand, some of them terrifying, most of them with young inexperienced teen drivers, like the last stupid and deadly one right in front of my eyes, that made me decide to do this website.
I am now 75 and retired as a professional driver with more than a million km of experience. I am doing this hoping that my advice and experience may help save lives.
Still, the facts are frightening and alarming
MORE THAN 2,000 TEENS
aged 16 to 19 are killed every year
and a quarter of a million
are treated in an emergency
for injuries suffered in
motor vehicle crashes.
Do not become a statistic1
That means that six teens ages 16-19 die every day from motor vehicle injuries.
Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16-19 are nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.
Young people ages 16-24 represent only 14/100 of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30/100 ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28/100($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.
8 main causes for crashes and injuries among teenagers:
- Driver inexperience. (hesitation, lack of knowledge)
- Driving with teen passengers.
- Nighttime driving.
- Not using seat belts. (like not wearing a helmet on a bike)
- Distracted driving.(texting, talking on the phone or passengers, loud music, watching scenery)
- Drowsy driving. (not enough sleep)
- Reckless driving. ( challenges and dare, road rage, fun)
- Impaired driving.( alcohol, loud music)
Cost:
Young people ages 16-24 represent only 14/100 of the U.S. population; however, they account for 30/100 ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28/100 ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.
Fortunately, teen motor vehicle crashes are preventable with proper education and training and proven strategies like GDL (Graduated Driver Licensing)
Defensive driving can also improve the safety of young drivers on the road.
The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16-19-year-olds than among any other age group. In fact, per mile drove, teen drivers aged 16 to 19 are nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash.
Among teen drivers, those at especially high risk for motor vehicle crashes are:
1 – Young Males: In 2013, the motor vehicle death rate for male drivers and passengers ages 16 to 19 was almost two times that of their female counterparts.
2 – Teens driving with teen passengers: The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. This risk increases with the number of teen passengers.
3 – Newly licensed teens: Crash risk is particularly high during the first months of having a driver’s license.
OTHER REASONS
Misjudgment due to superhero’s influence
Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate dangerous situations or not be able to recognize hazardous situations. Not counting the inexperience of being a new driver, teens could still be influenced by the superpower, mindless combativity, and invincibility. of their favorite modern superheroes.
Teens especially males, are in this period of adolescence when they try to prove themselves and find their identity. They naturally want to push the limits of their capabilities to prove they can do more than the average person and they may not want to admit their weaknesses in front of their peers.
Speeding and competitive spirit
Among male drivers between 15 and 20 years of age who were involved in fatal crashes in 2012, 35/100 were speeding at the time of the crash and 25/100 had been drinking.
On average, statistics show that males are driving more aggressively than women.
DUI:
At all levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the risk of involvement in a motor vehicle crash is greater for teens than for older drivers.
In 2013, 17/100 drivers aged 16 to 20 involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes had a BAC of .08/100 or higher.
In a national survey conducted in 2013, 22/100 teens reported that within the previous month they had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.
Among students who drove, 10/100 reported having driven after drinking alcohol within the same one-month period.
Seat Belts:
Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use. In 2013, only 55/100 high school students reported they always wear seat belts when riding with someone else. In 2012, Meaning 45/100 did not.
71/100 of drivers aged 15 to 20 were killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving were not wearing a seat belt
Of the teens (aged 13-20) who died in passenger vehicle crashes in 2013, approximately 56/100 were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Research shows that seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about half
Tailgating:
Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed and allow shorter headway (the distance from the front of one vehicle to the front of the next).
The presence of male teenage passengers increases the likelihood of this risky driving behavior. (showing off, competitive behavior, desire to look “cool” or grown-up, pride, etc.).
Tiredness:
Sleep-related crashes are most common in young people, especially men, adults with children, and shift workers.
According to the NSF’s 2002 poll: Drivers between 16-29 are much more likely to drive while drowsy compared to other age groups.
Time of day:
In 2013, 51/100 of teen deaths from motor vehicle crashes occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight and 54/100 occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Height Danger Zones
The leading causes of teen crashes:
Parents should learn these risks and teach their teen driver(s) in order to keep them safe:
1 – Driver inexperience
2 – Driving with teen passengers / Showing off / Distraction
3 – iPhones / Distracted driving
4 – Nighttime driving
5 – Not using seat belts
6 – Fatigue / Drowsy driving
7 – Speeding / Reckless driving
8 – Drugs & alcohol / Impaired driving
How to prevent Teens deaths and injuries?
There are proven methods for helping teens become safer drivers.
Through education and practice. Some school education programs include staged videos showing cause and effect for breaking the rules.
Your Las Vegas NV Driving School Instructor will teach you defensive driving to prevent dangerous situations and avoid possible accidents.
Don’t Text and Drive
What Happens To Your Body in a Car Crash?
Next Step: TOPIC 3 b: “REGARDING NEVADA TEENS”