Drivers Education and Teen Fatalities

Monday, September 18, 2006

Nancy L. Brown, PhD

More adolescents die in car crashes than from any other cause and drivers education has not changed much in 50 years according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Most states require driver education before teens can get a license but the standards for that education vary tremendously and may not include any practice time behind the wheel.

Meanwhile, there are about 6,000 teens killed in car crashes each year and although teen drivers make up only 6% of the licensed drivers in the United States, they are involved in 14% of the fatal crashes. What has changed is that all states now have some form of graduated driver’s licensing that limits nighttime driving and bans teen passengers until teens rack up some driving experience. These restrictions seem to be saving lives, but parents must help enforce them.

Resources
National Transportation Safety Board
Driving Skills for Life
We're Talking Teen Health

Tags: Healthline, teen health, teen driving, car crashes, graduated driver's licensing, car safety

Photo credit: Mr. Wabu

Labels: Driving

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