Teen Driving Safety

'Thirteen Stories We'd Rather Not Tell' 2008 teen motor vehicle crash memorial booklet

Teenagers are especially at risk of dying or being injured from motor vehicles. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15-19 year-olds in Utah. On average, motor vehicle crashes account for 40 deaths, 330 hospitalizations, and 5,400 emergency department (ED) visits a year for Utah residents ages 15-19 years. Motor vehicle crash death rates are highest in the 15-19 and 70+ age groups. Motor vehicle crash hospitalization and ED visit rates are highest in the 15-19 age group.

Teen drivers represented 7% of the licensed drivers in Utah in 2005, yet they were involved in a disproportionate percent of crashes; 27% of all motor vehicle crashes and 18% of all fatal crashes. On the basis of miles driven, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.

Wearing a seatbelt is one of the best ways to decrease injuries and deaths in a motor vehicle crash. Yet, only 37% of teen vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes in Utah were restrained. If all vehicle occupants 15-19 years old wore seatbelts in Utah, 52 additional lives could have been saved from 2001-2005.

In order to effect change, we must first recognize the problem and then take action. It is only when people fully realize the dangers on the road and implement interventions that this problem will be reduced. Ways to increase teen driving safety are:

• Graduated Driver License . This allows beginning drivers to build experience before they are exposed to more high-risk situations, such as carrying teen passengers and nighttime driving.
• Supervised Driving . Learning to drive, just like any other skill, takes practice and time. Safety experts agree good basic driving skills require at least 100 hours of supervised instruction behind the wheel. That means gradually exposing teens to as many of the potential conditions they will face on the road as possible.
• Parent/Teen Driver Contract . This is a written contract, signed by parents and the teen, which places limits on driving (such as at night, with teen passengers, and on high-speed roads) and focuses on the importance of safe driving habits. Contracts encourage parents and teens to talk about and develop some common driving rules.
• Continued Driver Education . To be more effective, driver education should be continued after new drivers are licensed. Drivers of all ages would benefit from continued driver education.
• Increase Seatbelt Use . Through both increased enforcement of existing seatbelt laws and education.
• School Policies . Schools can implement policies at high schools making parking privileges contingent on student seatbelt use, maintaining a clean driving record, and/or attending a safe driving presentation.
• Increase resources for the expansion of education and media campaigns targeting drivers ages 15-19 years.
• Restrict cell phones, text messages, mp3 players, food, loud music and friends, which are all distractions to drivers and increase vehicle crashes.