Teen drivers have a reputation for being impulsive and causing preventable crashes. Some of that stereotype stems from overall negative cultural attitudes toward teenagers. While many young adults do go through a rebellious phase, not all teenagers are irresponsible and sassy. Many simply want to set themselves up for a good future by succeeding at school, working part-time jobs and participating in extracurricular activities.
Getting a driver’s license is an important component of preparing for a bright future. Unfortunately, the stereotype about teen drivers also has a basis in collision statistics. Car crashes are a leading cause of severe injury and premature mortality among teenagers. Parents of teenagers preparing to drive may feel anxious about letting them practice or drive independently.
When parents understand the risk factors that play an outsized role in serious teenage collisions, they can help educate their new drivers about safety. What factors frequently contribute to teenage collision risk?
Distraction
Gen Z and Gen Alpha are digital natives. That is a way of saying that they have grown up with electronics and social media. Many of them feel quite dependent on their devices and have a hard time setting them down even for a few minutes. Digital distraction, ranging from texting to social media use, can contribute to teenage crash risk. So can the presence of other teenagers as passengers in the vehicle. Young adults often find their passengers to be quite distracting, and many crashes caused by teen drivers occur when they have multiple peers in the vehicle with them.
Excessive speed
Teen drivers lack experience. As such, they may not innately recognize when their speed becomes excessive. They may still struggle to divide their attention between monitoring the road and checking vehicle gauges. In some cases, young drivers speed without intending to do so. Other times, they drive excessively fast for the thrill of it or because they think that reaching their destination quickly is more important than safety. They may not even recognize the risk involved in driving excessively fast. Speed plays a role in a large number of crashes caused by teen drivers.
Chemical impairment
Underage drivers do not need to be legally drunk to be unsafe to drive. Any amount of alcohol in a young driver’s bloodstream could impact their ability to safely operate a vehicle. Alcohol increases reaction times, compromises decision-making abilities and makes it more difficult for drivers to focus. A variety of illicit substances, prescription drugs and even over-the-counter medications can also affect a teen driver’s capabilities. Parents may want to talk with their teens about not experimenting with substances and the importance of having a sober ride home.
Teaching young drivers about factors that increase their car crash risk is important. So is preparing them for how to respond appropriately if a collision occurs. Parents who set positive examples with their own driving habits can often teach their children safe practices that help them limit their driving risk.
