Earlier this month, a 4-year-old boy drove the car over his brother and injured him critically to go to Chuck E. Cheese. The kid was backing up the car and his brother (2 years older) fell out and got pinned under one of the wheels. However, the rescue team saved the kid after removing a passenger-side wheel and the boy is recovering fast, but the incident leaves a question for all of us. How safe the kids are on the road and how dangerous teenage driving can be?
Statistics About Teenage Drivers
I researched to see the facts and data. I love the analytics but not here – Do you know that road accident is the leading cause of death for teens ages 15 to 20. According to a survey, 13% of teens admitted to texting while driving and 56% to talking. GOSH, what’s wrong with them? Probably they don’t like rules.
Some more facts:
- Nearly 25% of the fatal teen car accidents were due to underage drinking and driving.
- About 15% of 18-20 years old reported driving after drinking alcohol.
- More than 50% of teenage drivers (involved in fatal drinking and driving crashes) didn’t use their seat belts.
- Back in 2013, 8 teens died in car accidents per day.
- As per CDC Data, 10% teens in high school drinks and drives.
Good News
The ratio of students in high school who drink and drive has decreased by more than 50% since 1991.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Can we cut it down further? YES.
What Can be Done About Teenage Drivers?
It requires cumulative efforts from Government, Communities, Schools, Parents, friends and obviously teen.
- Students while driving should keep their mobile phones off. According to the research, texting a message causes loss of focus on road for 4-5 seconds. This time is enough to invite unwanted situation for you, loose control over the things and doing a crash. John Lawlor from Ft. Lauderdale law firm instructs teen drivers to check their navigational apps and see the traffic updates/alternate routes.
- Students should make use of headlights while driving early morning or at night times.
- Have a control over speed. Driving at controlled speed reduces the possibilities of accidents.
- Do defensive driving.
- States and communities should run road safety awareness campaigns among parents and kids. They’ll also have to make sure policies such as drinking age is strictly followed.
- The role of parents becomes extremely important here. They need to handle them very softly advising them to stay away from distractions during driving. The traffic rules, speed guidelines, precautions for driving late at night – they should discuss everything with them.
- According to a new study, later school start times will let kids sleep longer and drowsy students wouldn’t crash their cars.
I admire every step from the activists done for the social welfare. Let’s work something great for our kids.
What do you think?
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