Driver's Licenses Should Not Be Issued to Anyone Younger Than 18-Years Old

"Driver's Licenses Should not be issued to Anyone Younger than 18-years old"

In our society there is a system of laws and practices that gradually introduce our teen drivers to the driving population. In most cases, car accidents that happen are preventable, however it is the driver that gets distracted, tired, or is under the influence of alcohol. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration has reported that most driver engage in activities that distract them from their driving environment. There are a number of reasons why driver's licenses should not be issued until a driver reaches age 18. One reason would be due to the number of causalities among teen drivers; another reason would be how easily distracted drivers are as an overall population while driving.

Teen crash rate among the driving is more prominent now than ever before. Statistical data reflects that 16-year old drivers have higher crash than any other age. At this age, it is three times more likely to have causalities compared to other drivers in the driving population. Further statistical data show that 25% of teen drivers have been killed due to alcohol consumption, usually with the estimated Blood Alcohol Concentration of .08 or greater which is considered drunk driving. Other statistical data shows, the AAA Foundation reported that car accidents involving fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen year olds claimed the lives of 30,917 between the periods of 1995 to 2004.

Center for Disease Control reports, the crash risk for teenage drivers are more common to occur at night. Graduated Drover Licensing addresses the high risks faced by new drivers by allowing them to get their initial driving experience in a low risk environment. Observations of GDL programs in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand have all concluded that GDL aid in reducing the risk of accidents among teen and other inexperienced drivers. GDL appears to work both by reducing the amount of driving by an inexperienced driver and by improving driving skills under low risk conditions.

Parents should encourage their teen to avoid distractions while driving and continue enforcing driving skills while implementing hands on training in low risk environments. Such as practicing in residential areas for speed control, empty parking lots, and/or lightly traveled roads. Consistent supervising will enable your teen to become successful and attentive in driving environments. Parents should also enforce the importance of texting while driving and how it is not only fatal to the individual doing it but the other innocent bystanders in the driving environment.

Work Cited:

http://www.5myteen.com/statistics.html

http://www.cdc.gov/MotorVehicleSafety/Teen_Drivers/GDL_reduce_risk.html