Unpacking Overconfidence and Responsibility in Teen Driving

There is a sense of confidence and fearlessness that takes over teens when driving, because it is one of the first signs of independence. As a teen driver, it is hard to feel like something bad can happen when nothing bad has happened to us while driving, which is why it is hard to believe that we can be a victim of texting and driving or driving too fast. Teen driver safety is a critical issue to address because a teen will not be able to understand the jeopardy that reckless and irresponsible driving will put them in, until they find themselves in that position. While driver’s education does an excellent job at acknowledging that issue, it is not being addressed as realistically as it could be. When I was in Driver’s Education, my instructor made sure we knew that as teen drivers, many of us would get into a car accident during our initial stages of driving. But he never talked about why that was, I assumed it would be because of lack of experience, but it is because of over confidence. Driver’s Education tells us there are a set of rules to follow, the chances of hurting someone if those rules are broken are high, the chances of hurting ourselves are even more high, but the psychological explanation behind the temptation of breaking those rules is not talked about.

By law, speeding and texting and driving are illegal, but teen drivers believe it harmless, both stems out of over-confidence and peer-pressure, two of the biggest challenges in teen driver safety. Over-confidence starts when nothing bad happens while we are driving, and we believe that because nothing happened once, nothings going to happen anytime. It is one of the biggest concerns that comes to mind with young drivers. For instance, when we forget to break before entering a curve, but nothing bad happened, so from then on, we stop breaking before the curves; or when we pick up our phones while driving and nothing bad happens, so we continue to do so. While that over-confidence builds up, we begin to forget that nothing is certain, which inevitably endangers our lives and the lives of others. Peer-pressure is a similar issue, were the predominant thought that goes into our decision-making is: “if they can do it, so can I;” whether that is in terms of ability or the right to do something. For instance, we may believe that because our friends speed in the highway, then we can do it to, not only because they can do it, but because no one has ever stopped them from doing so, therefore, we can do it. Both challenges can be fatal, which is why addressing them is imperative.

In my personal experience, safe driving habits look like setting up a music playlist that will allow you to turn off your phone and stop you from picking it up, putting your phone in “do not disturb”, staying within the speed limit, and most importantly, driving defensively. Driving defensively does not mean driving scared, but they can work together. If driving scared will encourage us to drive with caution, then driving scared will make us good drivers, but if by driving scared, we add to the danger on the road, then we become a burden. So, there is a thin line that can be crossed when driving scared, where driving defensively can become an obstruction, but the best driving for young drivers is defensive driving.

The most effective solution to increase teen driver safety is to educate them with programs such as Driver’s Education, but also come to a compromise with parents. Disclose an agreement that will allow the young driver to understand what to do if an incident happens, and what will be the consequences, this will formalize a set of rules and expectations that parents expect from young drivers. It will also encourage the young driver to think before they act, because being irresponsible will cost them. If possible, maybe even including the young driver in participating in certain car payments, such as insurance, not as a responsibility or a punishment, but as a lesson to show them the reality of how expensive it is to have the privilege of driving, leading them to drive more safely. Another effective solution is to use technology as our ally, not our distraction. Allow for technology to assist us in staying in our lane with lane assist and staying in constant speed with cruise control if needed. However, do not rely on technology, find a car that is the perfect balance between technology assistance and independent driving. Making sure we can still drive without the technology is important but using it to enhance our driving will decrease the risk that comes with inexperience driving.

On a final note, every driver is exposed to danger on the road, and being an inexperienced driver is inevitable because we all start somewhere. But starting responsibly will be the pivotal point in the future for any driver. Making sure we follow both written and social rules while driving, thinking before acting, and exposure will increase teen driver safety.