Every year, thousands of parents in every state across the country deal with the anxiety of their teenagers beginning to learn how to drive. In South Dakota, for example, teens can start learning at only 14 years old. Being a teenager is full of many challenges; from emotional development to physical development, it’s common for it to be a tumultuous time emotionally. As a teen, I know firsthand how we can be emotionally volatile and impulsive, increasing our propensity for risk taking and irresponsible behaviors. So it's not a surprise that this is an anxiety-ridden time for parents, especially when driving is introduced into the mix.
Teen driver safety is a pressing public issue because teenagers are the population more likely to be involved in accidents due to reckless driving. Driving with peers can cause distractions, and driving under the influence is not an uncommon occurrence. Comprehensive driver’s education often addresses this issue by making teens aware of just how important it is to be safe while driving. This is often through sharing statistics, or detailing the effects and repercussions of distracted driving or driving while under the influence.
As previously mentioned, one of the largest challenges facing teen drivers today are the distractions of peers also in the vehicle. To prevent distracted driving, teens can be encouraged to put their phones away while driving and to limit the number of passengers allowed in the vehicle. In limiting possible distractions, the chances of an accident are lowered. In terms of driving under the influence, teens can be encouraged and empowered with the power of saying no. Imparting upon them the importance and value of their lives over what their friends might say or think not only encourages them to speak up, but it also can save their lives.
A situation that comes to mind regarding the importance of safe driving habits for teens is the situation that one of my old classmates is currently in. About a year ago near 4th of July, a classmate of mine, one that I had sat next to all year, was arrested and is currently facing charges for vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter. He had been both driving with his friends and under the influence of alcohol at the time. For me, I was incredibly shocked that someone I had personally known could be involved in something like this. And I couldn’t even begin to imagine how he felt. To know that you were responsible for taking someone’s life, that because of you, someone would never see their father or husband again, that must do terrible things to one’s mind. This situation highlights just how important safe driving habits are; not only did this student cost someone their life, he also permanently impacted his own.
To prevent something like this from happening to themselves or their peers, it’s important for teens to know that there is nothing wrong with speaking up when they see their friend exhibiting unsafe driving practices. Oftentimes, hearing something from a friend helps you understand the severity of a situation. So, understanding that there is nothing wrong with telling your friend not to text and drive, or telling them that drinking before driving is an unsafe and unwise decision, not only shows that you care about your friend’s well-being, but it also protects you as well. While many schools already offer driving classes for students, incorporating programs similar to the anti-drug presentations might also be useful in promoting safer driving. My high school had an anti-drug presentation where we heard the 911 calls of people who had found their loved ones overdosing, listened to a parent of a victim, and even saw pictures of the effects. While some may consider this rather extreme, I believe it was effective in its messaging. I believe that schools having a program like this explicitly detailing the repercussions of unsafe driving can effectively promote safe driving. In terms of community action, social media can play a role in effectively promoting safe driving habits for teens. If communities can hire teens to create posts, infographics, videos, etc, promoting safe driving and giving tips, this can help nurture safer driving practices. And, like how hearing something from a friend can influence your decisions, hearing something from someone in your age group can do the same. Communities can also involve libraries to host community workshops. These workshops can also be advantageous for parents. If they can see first hand what their children are learning, this can allow them to become more comfortable with their kids driving.
Learning how to drive can be an uncomfortable and scary time. But if you are armed with the knowledge and skills necessary to make you and your passengers safe, it doesn’t have to be. Including parents, schools, and communities in educating teens about the dangers of distracted driving provides relief not only to parents, but to communities as a whole.