Teenage drivers are often portrayed as being unsafe drivers. However, many people are unaware of the statistics behind this concern. Currently, car crashes are one of the leading causes of death in the United States for teens ranging from fifteen to eighteen, and 822 teens were killed in traffic crashes in 2023 (“Teen Driver Safety”). More emphasis must be placed on driving safety, which can be achieved through various methods, including learning how to manage distractions, developing strategies for handling various situations, offering rewards to safe teen drivers, and implementing more legislation in states that promotes safe driving. Implementing all of these strategies together can help save lives.
The world is full of distractions, especially as research indicates that our attention spans have been shrinking over the past two decades (“Speaking of Psychology”). While many people consider phone usage as one of the main forms of distracted driving impacting teen drivers, there are also other examples, such as adjusting their appearance, eating, changing the radio and temperature controls, and zoning out. There are several effective ways to teach teens about reducing distractions,, both at home and in 'driver's ed classes. These include reminding teens to set up their GPS and controls before driving and to keep their eyes on the road. Additionally, numerous apps are available that can turn off the driver’s phone while driving, helping to prevent phone use while driving. The use of a dash cam with a camera pointed at the teen driver and also at the road can help parents ensure their child is focused and driving safely. Educating teens on distracted driving and how to avoid these distractions will allow them to drive safer and reduce crashes.
Sometimes, car crashes can happen due to situations that are beyond a driver’s control. For example, my very first winter as a newly licensed driver, I was accelerating on an on-ramp to get onto the highway to get home from college, and my car hit a patch of ice. This patch of ice caused me to spin repeatedly off the road, and I landed in an embankment with a foot of snow. I had no clue what to do while my car spun, as I thought I had learned that turning the wheel or braking would make it worse, so I took my hands off the wheel. Additionally, there was another car behind me, and I was afraid that any decision I made would run the risk of injuring them. Due to there being a foot of snow, I was unable to get out without the help of a tow truck. I believe that educating teen drivers on how to handle various weather-related situations can help prevent crashes and save lives. For example, teens should be taught how to drive safely in severe rain, snow, icy conditions, and hydroplaning. These lessons can be taught during their driver’s ed classes since their teachers will be the most experienced when it comes to driving safety. Educating students on various scenarios can help reduce negative outcomes, such as crashes, injuries, and death.
Another way to improve teenage driving safety is by providing rewards. For example, numerous apps track driving behaviors and allow points to be redeemed for gift cards or cash. These apps can monitor things like phone use or hard braking. Each drive gives teens the chance to earn additional points, which can later be redeemed for these rewards. Offering teens rewards will provide them with additional incentives to drive safely. Additionally, offering rewards to safe drivers regardless of age can also improve driving habits for everyone and help to reduce crashes. Increased promotion of these apps will help more teens discover and use them.
One of the best ways to help promote safe driving is by implementing more laws at the state or federal level to crack down on distracted driving. For example, in 2023, Michigan implemented a hands-free driving law. This law bans drivers from using their phones while driving, even if they are stopped at a stop sign or a red light. If they are caught, they can be given a ticket and/or community service. Although it can be challenging to pass laws that drive change, laws that stop distracted driving can save lives. For example, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2021, distracted driving killed 3,522 people in the United States (Synk, 2023). Only thirty states have hands-free driving laws, so implementing this law throughout the rest of the United States can help save more lives, especially the teenagers who are most impacted.
Ultimately, many solutions can be used to benefit teen drivers and improve their safety. Implementing all of these solutions will enable them to reduce distractions and accidents. Teen drivers will feel better prepared in hazardous road conditions due to additional teachings from their driver's ed teachers. Along with hands-free driving laws, driving apps can also minimize distracting phone usage by locking the phone and providing rewards to safe drivers. Using these various solutions can help reduce accidents and help teens become better drivers.