Ashley Hunter, Greene Publishing, Inc.
Every year, it is estimated that close to 123,000 teenagers are injured in traffic-related events, and in 2014 (when the last study was held), 2,679 teenagers were killed as the result of car crashes.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, more teens die from car crashes than from the next three leading causes of teen deaths, which are homicide, suicide and disease.
Sunday, Oct. 16 through Saturday, Oct. 22 marks the annual National Teen Driver Safety Week.
In 2010, the week was brought to life after a series of motor vehicle crashes that involved Pennsylvania high school students Pennsylvania's Representative Charlie Dent (Republican) and Senator Bob Casey (Democrat) sponsored the resolution to create National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW). Traffic safety experts at The Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania and State Farm Insurance companies helped support the resolution.
Celebrities, such as Oprah Winfrey, singer/songwriter Jesse McCartney and race car driver Zach Veach have also backed the week.
NTDSW is dedicated to raising awareness and seeking solutions to prevent the premature deaths and injuries of teen drivers across the United States.
“Don't drink and drive” has become a well known motto, much like the “Click it or ticket” phrase coined by law enforcement agencies, in fact, when it comes to drinking and driving, teens are statistically less likely to drive while intoxicated than adults (likely due to the illegal nature of teenage drinking). Unfortunately, 52 percent of teenagers say they have observed either friends or guardians drinking while driving. When it comes to seatbelt use, however, many teens fall short. Only 65 percent of teenagers consistently wear seat belts when they are driving or riding as a passenger. Two out of three teens who are killed in a collision when they are the passenger were unbuckled and six out of ten drivers, aged 16 to 20 who were killed in motor vehicle collisions were unrestrained.
Some of the common components that weigh into teen driving are speeding, cell phone use, distraction, too many passengers and parental influence.
Speeding:
Nearly half of the teenage populace say that they have observed, or partaken in encouraging their friends to speed, at least sometimes.
Half of teen drivers report driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit from time to time.
The risk of a crash increases incrementally with each mile per hour over the speed limit is traveled; this does not apply strictly to teenage drivers either.
75 percent of serious crashes involving teen drivers are due to “critical errors,” such as going too fast for road condition and being unable to respond to other drivers or navigating a curve too fast.
Cell phone use:
Nine of 10 teens say that it is common for them to observe other teens driving while talking on a cell phone.
66 percent of teens say they care about their parent's views of cell phone use while driving. That leaves 34 percent who disregard their parent's views without care.
12 percent of teenage driver crashes are the fault of cell phone use.
Just the act of dialing a phone number increases the risk of a crash by three times.
Texting takes away a driver's attention from the road more frequently and for longer periods of time than any other distraction.
Distraction:
15 percent of crashes involving teen drivers are the cause of interacting with one or more passengers.
10 percent of teen crashes are the result of the driver looking at something in the vehicle and nine percent are caused by the driver looking at something outside of the vehicle.
All teens like their music, no study needs to be done for that. However, eight percent of teen crashes are the result of the teenaged driver singing or moving to their music.
Put down the brush or makeup; six percent of crashes that involve a teenager behind the wheel are the result of grooming.
90 percent of teens say they notice when passengers are behaving in a way that distracts a driver.
Studies have proven that driving when emotional (sad or angry, in particular) can be dangerous as well. Anger, especially, can cause road rage and poor decision making. Whether the driver is a teenager or adult, it is advised that you cool down before getting behind the wheel.
For many teen driver educational avenues, scaring the teenagers is the method of choice. However, it should hardly be surprising that this method does little but shut teenagers down. Experts instead suggest that focusing on preventative actions, showing what teenagers can do differently is a better way to promote their safety when on the road. As 56 percent of teenaged drivers rely on mom and dad to teach them how to behave behind the wheel, parental involvement and the behavior of the parents when driving is a powerful outreach.
It's simple; don't want your teen to text and drive? Make the change first. Put your phone away and unplug while driving. Buckle up if you want them to buckle up; stay within the speed limit if you frown on them speeding and don't drink and drive – even when you are alone.
Be the example you want your teenaged drivers to follow.