A Parent’s Worst Nightmare

A parent’s worst nightmare. A phone call from a child, or worse – the hospital – informing them that there has been an accident. Vehicle crashes are an omnipresent boogeyman in the lives of teens from the age of 16 onwards. At best, an accident signifies thousands of dollars in damages. At worst, the loss of a child. As a society, it is our responsibility to prepare teenages as best as we can for the dangers of the road. When it comes to distracted driving, a single moment can mean the difference of life and death. The spectre of a single text message should never haunt the lives of a family, and it is therefore of paramount importance that we strive to minimize dangerous driving habits in teens wherever possible.

If we are to facilitate an effective campaign against dangerous driving habits however, it is first necessary to understand why teens disproportionately fall victim to them. Vehicle related accidents are an incredibly pervasive danger for youth drivers. The CDC reports that in 2019 alone, “2,400 teens” were killed in vehicle accidents, while well over “258,000” required treatment in “emergency departments” for incident related injuries. This data is alarming, and indicates that the rate for teen accidents is well above that of the average American for any other age group. The explanation for this phenomenon is multifaceted. Teens are much more likely to make mistakes while driving and to ignore safety regulations. According to the Staver Law Group, teens with “less than two years of driving experience” are not equipped with the knowledge of how to handle dangerous situations, and are more likely to make dangerous mistakes. Seat belt usage, a pervasive issue among all American drivers, is especially apparent for teens. A 2013 survey reported that only “slightly more than a half of high school students” wear their seatbelt regularly.

Despite these factors, perhaps the greatest threat to teenage drivers can be found in distracted driving. Teenagers are generally more prone to drive under the influence of alcohol and illicit substances such as marijuana, with “almost a quarter of teens” reporting that they are willing to ride with an impaired driver. Impared senses and reflexes, coupled with a lack of experience, make for dangerous driving conditions. Driving with fellow teens in the passenger seat can commonly result in dangerous situations as well. Government studies have shown that drivers who might otherwise abstain from dangerous practices, such as “driving recklessly” or while “under the influence”, commonly do so regardless due to “peer pressure”. Responsible teenagers might fall victim to the desire to fit in and impress their friends. The single greatest cause of distracted driving in teenagers, however, comes from the use of smartphones. “Text messaging,” “social media use,” and phone calls have become a “primary cause of auto accidents involving teens”. Smart phones follow teenageres wherever they go, and even diligent drivers can find themselves distracted by notifications and alerts. Unfortunately, only a momentary glance is enough distraction to result in a life altering accident.

The key to raising awareness is understanding the root causes of distracted driving. The reason why so many initiatives to reduce it fall short is because they fail to recognize the concurrency between driving habits and outside behaviour. Teenagers are disproportionately likely to get involved in activities such as substance abuse and social media addiction. Due to numerous factors, during an individual’s teenage years they are much more susceptible to being caught up in damaging habits. The problem arises when those same habits follow teens into the driver’s seat of a two ton vehicle. Teenagers must receive proper education regarding the dangerous consequences of failing to take such threats to their safety seriously. Local and federal governments have attempted to reduce teen use of illicit substances, and recently smartphone addiction, for countless years. No amount of funding, however, can make up for a lack of attention of parents on the homefront. In a similar manner to their children, parents should be properly educated on how to solve this problem at the source.

Educators can also reduce these habits by showing students the ugly results of vehicle accidents. This should be done through the implementation of hands-on exercises and simulations, such as the “Shattered Dreams” program. Shattered Dreams is a national initiative that partners with schools and local emergency services to simulate accidents on school campuses. Over the course of a few days, students are shown the bloody aftermath of an accident in a staged reenactment, as well as the ensuing emergency responses and court dealings. A handful of the student’s peers are selected to play the part of victims, and are removed from class for the duration of the program. Speaking from experience, the simulation can be both traumatic and enlightening for many an unsuspecting teenager. When confronted with the true scope of the consequences of a seemingly harmless text, teenagers are much more likely to abandon the practice of texting and driving. In this way, programs like Shattered Dreams are much more effective than a driver’s education chapter ever could be.

In short, the road to successfully safeguarding teenage drivers is an arduous, yet rewarding one. By their nature, teenagers are an at-risk group for a variety of situations. If any number of lives can be saved through proper education, then the price of such initiatives is more than worth it. By understanding the complexities of teenage behavior, working with parents to provide education on the homefront, and partnering with interactive programs such as Shattered Lives, as a society we will reduce the occurrence of distracted driving.

Works Cited

N/A. “Factors That Increase the Risk of Crashes.” Factors That Increase the Risk of Crashes | Youth.gov.

N/A. “Teen Drivers: Get the Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 Oct. 2021.

Staver, Jared. “7 Reasons for Teen Car Accidents.” Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., 6 Aug. 2021.