Why Teen Driver Safety Matters

Teen driver safety is one of those topics people hear about but often don’t fully grasp until a tragedy hits close to home. Every year, thousands of teenagers are killed in car accidents, making motor vehicle crashes one of the leading causes of death for teens in the United States (IIHS).

These aren’t just numbers on a page; they’re real people, real lives cut short. One crash that really stuck with me was the recent one on I-485 near Charlotte, where a 16-year-old driver caused a wreck that killed six people (WBTV). It shook me, not just because of how tragic it was, but because it reminded me how quickly things go wrong behind the wheel. Especially with young, inexperienced drivers. It doesn’t take much, just one bad decision, or one glance away from the road, to change an entire family’s life.

That’s why I believe driver’s education is more than just a class; it’s a public safety necessity. I took driver’s ed through my high school to get my permit, and honestly, it was one of the most valuable courses I’ve taken. It wasn’t just about memorizing road signs or watching crash videos. It was about learning how to be safe. I especially appreciated learning from a professional instructor rather than a parent. I think all teens would benefit from having someone outside their family make them pay attention differently. Less likely to argue or tune out. The dynamic is different; it becomes less personal and more focused and professional, which I think is essential when learning something as serious as driving. Especially when not all parents are exactly teachers. I know in my experience, I ended up learning a lot more that way, and it helped me feel more confident when I did have to drive with my parents.

As an 18-year-old myself, I see the challenges teen drivers face every day. The biggest issues are distractions. Especially phones. Then there’s peer pressure from passengers, a lack of proper instruction, and just plain inexperience. I know at least three people who got their license during the height of COVID without ever taking a real behind-the-wheel test. They filled out paperwork and did an easy computer test, and got handed their license, no questions asked. I understand that might have been necessary at the time, but now I think we’re seeing the long-term effects. So many of those drivers never got the foundations they needed, and it shows.

That said, some of these challenges are fixable. For example, I use Apple’s “Driver Focus” mode when I’m behind the wheel. When I start driving, it automatically silences notifications and only lets me skip songs or use navigation, which hugely helps me from checking my phone. If more teens used tools like this, I think distracted driving could be cut down a lot. As for the no-test COVID drivers, I think anyone who got licensed without a road test should be required to take one now that life is back to normal. I understand there would be pushback about this, but it’s not about “punishing” anyone; it’s about making sure our roads are safer for everyone.

While I’ve been lucky enough to avoid accidents myself, I’ve seen the effects up close. My mom has been in a few scary crashes. My half-brother got into one so bad that he lost an entire month of memory. And my girlfriend has lost more than one person in car accidents. These stories are a big part of why I care so deeply about these issues and why I am overly cautious on the road. I know how quickly lives can change, and I don’t want to be the reason someone else gets hurt.

So what can we do? First, I think schools and communities need to treat driver’s education the same way they treat a PE or health class. It should be required and free for every student. At my school, you had to pay 60 dollars for the class and show up before school started– sometimes as early as 6 am– with no option for bus transportation. That’s just straight up not doable for every teen. Making the program free and a part of a regular school day would go a long way towards making sure every student has a solid foundation before they ever get behind the wheel. This levels the playing field, too, seeing as right now only teens with enough time, money, or parental support get proper access to training, and that’s not okay when lives are at stake.

In the end, teen driver safety isn’t just a teen issue, but a public safety issue. With the right education, support, and tools, I believe we can make a real difference. But it starts with taking the problem as seriously as it is and committing to the change at every level: from students to schools to entire communities.