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Safe driving for teens

Contents of this page:

Alternative Names   

Driving and teenagers; Teens and safe driving; Automobile safety - teenage drivers

Information    Return to top

Learning to drive is a major rite of passage for teens (and their parents). It's a time of exciting possibilities and achievements. It's also a time of grave risk.

Driving is fatal for almost 50,000 Americans every year. Those between ages 15 and 24 (especially males) have the highest rate of auto-related deaths, even though people in this age group may be smart, skilled, and have great reflexes. A collision is the most likely tragedy to kill or cripple a teenager.

In addition, automobile accidents are a leading cause of death in infants and children. (See: Child safety seats)

Cars have many important safety features -- seat belts, shoulder straps, headrests, air bags, padded dashes, safety glass, collapsible steering columns, anti-locking breaks, and a host of other less-recognized improvements.

Regardless, reckless driving still proves a danger to teens.

All new drivers should take a driver's education course. These courses have been proven to reduce accidents, but they are not enough. Teens often feel like serious accidents will not happen to them. But teens can take steps to change the odds in their favor.

Teenage-related driving deaths frequently occur in the following situations:

REDUCING ACCIDENTS

Parents should discuss "household driving rules" with their teens and help their new drivers stick to them. An excellent method to stimulate discussions and set expectations is actually to have parents and teens sign a written "driving contract". This document should specify the rules and consequences of breaking the rules. Be sure to state in the contract that parents have the final say. Consider all the issues above when writing the contract.

Parents should encourage their teens to call without consequence rather than get in a car with a driver who has been drinking. However, should the parents discover that their child has been driving and drinking, the parents should ask the state to suspend that teenager's license until the teen is 18. (In many states the parent must sign for a teenager under 18 to obtain a driver's license. At any time before the 18th birthday a parent can refuse responsibility and the state will take the license.)

A MESSAGE TO TEENS

These suggestions are not intended to be a punishment, but to prevent accidents, life-long disability, and death. You are worth far more than the inconvenience and hassle. You can set an example for friends on how to drive responsibly. You might even save a life.

References    Return to top

Martinez R. Teen crash victims: who are these people and why are they here? Ann Emerg Med. 2005; 45(2): 155-156.

Gonzales MM. Student drivers: a study of fatal motor vehicle crashes involving 16-year-old drivers. Ann Emerg Med. 2005; 45(2): 140-146.

Update Date: 5/12/2009

Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc

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