Tiffany Viola (Edison) Death Ratings on the Rise Among Teenage Drivers

19. February 2010 by student.

             Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens in Florida and the nation, according to the proclamation, and account for 38 percent of all deaths in that teen age group. (“DeSoto Sun”).  Across America teens get their restricted drivers license or (learner’s permit) at the age of 15.  In the state of Florida teens must hold their permit for one year before they are eligible to get their driver’s license.  In Ohio teens must be 15 and a half to receive their permit and they must hold it for 6 months in order to be eligible to get their driver’s license.  This means teenagers can be as young as 16 years old with a driver’s license, and in some cases, only have 6 months of practice before being allowed to drive alone. 

                  After analyzing statistics, it is clear that the Department of Motor Vehicle’s, (DMV), across America should not allow teenagers at the age of 16 to receive their driver’s license.  It is obvious that teens at the age of 16 are neither mature nor responsible enough to be driving alone.  3,490 drivers, age 15-20, died in car crashes in 2006, up slightly from 2005, (Statistics).  It is time to look at the driving age and realize that 16 year olds are not ready to be on the road alone.  A decision needs to be made to change the driving age to a more suitable and responsible age.

                    A study was conducted as to whether or not sixteen year olds are mature and responsible enough to be trusted to drive alone. My extensive search found over 200 different articles relating to the driving age, some of these articles were statistics that show how many teens are in car accidents each year.  Other studies examined the maturity and the responsibility levels of teens when they are behind the wheel.  I found a good amount of information from the database that came from news paper articles around the United Sates.           

                  My research showed that teenage driving is the leading cause in deaths among teens.  In 2006, 3,490 15- to 20-year-old drivers died and an additional 272,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes.  In 2006, 12.9 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes were between 15 and 20 years old.  In comparison, these young drivers represent 6.3 percent of all licensed drivers, overall, driver fatalities for this age group increased by 3 percent between 1996 and 2006.  For young males, driver fatalities rose by 5 percent, compared with a 3 percent decrease for young females, (“Congress”).  The conclusion, after looking at these statistics, was that teenage drivers are losing their lives day after day to car accidents.  This makes it obvious that teens should not be driving alone, especially not at 16 years old.

                 Teens between the age of 15 and 20 are not mentally capable of driving alone.  Teens are easily distracted and when an accident is about to occur they are not capable of thinking and reacting quick enough as to what they should do.  Some of the high risk behavior issues include failure to wear safety belts, speeding, and driving while impaired, (by alcohol or other drugs), drowsy, or distracted.  Additionally, this age group is particularly susceptible to distractions, including other passengers in the vehicle and electronic devices.  Thirty-one percent of teen drivers killed in 2006 had been drinking, according to NHTSA.  Twenty-five percent had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.  In addition, statistics show that 16 and 17-year-old driver death rates increase with each additional passenger, (IIHS).  Highway safety literature has documented that teen drivers, due to a combination of immaturity and inexperience, have a higher propensity for risk-taking behaviors than do older and more experienced drivers.  Younger drivers do not always consider the consequences of their actions, (“Statistics”).           

                    The research also clearly shows that teens are inexperienced drivers.  All one must do is look at the time a 15 year old has to hold a permit.  At 15 years old you only have to keep a learner’s permits for 6 months to a year depending where you live.  That being said, it is obvious why there are so many fatal car accidents among young drivers each year.  Six months to 1 year is not a long enough time for anyone to learn how to drive, especially not a 15 year old.  Considering the 15 year old is not driving everyday under all weather conditions, it is obvious they are not prepared after 6 months to 1 year to be driving alone.            

                Based on my research, I have concluded that the driving age should not be 16. Death ratings are on the rise among teenage drivers, teens are mentally incapable of driving alone, and finally because teens are inexperienced at 16 years old with only 6 months to a year to learn how to drive.  This data shows that driving alone at the age of 16 is not safe.  Statistics show that adolescents between the ages of 15 and 20 have a high accident rating leading to injuries and deaths.  By letting teens drive at age 16 the government is opening the doors for these young people to kill themselves.            

                 It is time for the driving age to change.  Adolescents need to hold a learners permit for at least two years to get the experience they will need as licensed drivers. “The bottom line is that when we look at the research, raising the driving age saves lives,” Lund said, (“Safety”).             

                    I feel that DMV’s across America should come together as one and put an end to adolescent fatalities by raising the driving age.  Parents should also come together to put an end to this by encouraging their children to keep their learners permit for more than one year.  There are so many actions that can be taken to stop these fatalities among young drivers.  Including raising the driving age and working with adolescents for more than one year to give them the experience they need as young drivers.  We, as Americans, need to take into consideration the lives that are taken each year from inexperienced drivers.  

 Sources:“Desoto County School Briefs- Teenage Safe Driving Awareness Week.” 22 Apr. 2009. News Bank. Edison State College, Ft. Myers. 24 Apr. 2009 http://infoweb.newsbank.com  

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