Teen Drivers and Motor Vehicle Crashes

by Tanya Davis

“Mom, I’ve had a wreck.” When teens begin to drive, those are the most dreaded words in the English language. Parents know that they must learn to let go and allow their teens to drive. But at what cost? Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for teens, according to a 2006 survey by the Center for Disease control. In 2005, 400,000 teens received nonfatal injuries that were enough to send them to the emergency room.

Who is at Risk?

In 2004, the number of male drivers and passengers killed in crashes who were between the ages of 16 and 19 outnumbered the female drivers by almost 1.5 times. Also, the risk of being involved in a crash is highest during the first year that teens are able to drive. That is most likely because teens:

Have less experience in recognizing potential hazards
Are more likely to speed
Are more likely to drive closer to the vehicle in front of them

How Can Parents Help?

Aside from locking your child in a closet, you may feel like there is no way to protect him from the grim statistics. But there are ways to help your child avoid being involved in a crash. Experts suggest that, if you can, you should delay letting your child get his license. Even waiting until age 17 can substantially reduce the risk of a crash. Also, most states require that teens have around 30 hours of supervised driving time prior to obtaining their license; the National Safety Council suggests more -- at least 50 hours. The more time you are able to spend with your child letting him control the vehicle, the safer he will become.

In addition to these proactive suggestions, there are certain things that teen drivers should be forbidden from doing while they drive. One study found that 18 to 20-year-olds who were distracted while driving were four times more likely to be involved in a crash. So stressing ways to avoid taking your eyes off the road will go a long way in keeping your child safe. Distractions like eating food, drinking, changing the radio or CD, and answering the telephone are all behaviors that easily lead to motor vehicle crashes. 80 percent of drivers who are involved in accidents admit that they were distracted during the three seconds prior to the crash – ample evidence that we should only do one thing at a time behind the wheel.

The biggest distraction for teen drivers though, is having passengers in their car. Most teens will drive faster as well as closer to the vehicles in front of them when they have a passenger. They are more likely to run red lights and more likely to drink alcohol. Studies show that this raises their risk of death to 39 percent higher if they have one passenger. With two passengers, the risk is 86 percent higher, and with more than three passengers in the car the risk of driver death is a whopping 2.82 times higher. Because the presence of peers increases the danger of risky behavior so much, the biggest way parents can ensure their safety is by restricting passengers in the child’s vehicle. Many graduated licensing systems include this restriction.

Parents of teenage drivers cannot keep them safe all the time, but with careful supervision and rules, it is at least possible to ensure that your teen will act responsibly behind the wheel. Parents know that, with children, there are no guarantees. But with education and awareness, you can give your child the best chance at safety on the road.

Be careful out there!