A great deal of people are involved in car accidents each year, especially teenagers. In this paper, teenagers will be interpreted as 15 years to 20 years of age. Teen driving safety is a critical public issue because of the high risk of accidents and fatalities among teen drivers. According to MarketWatch Guides - Teen Driving Statistics 2025, it was estimated in 2021, there were more than 200,000 drivers between the ages of 15-20 were injured in a car accident. In that same year, about 2,000 young drivers lost their lives from car accidents, which is an 11% increase from the previous year. These statistics showcase the increasing danger for teenage drivers in recent years.
Driver’s education is a requirement for all drivers at the start of their driving career, particularly teens. Driver’s education has different requirements in each of the 50 states, some more lenient than others. For example Maryland and South Carolina have quite different and requirements for driver’s education. In Maryland, anyone obtaining their first driver’s license must complete 30 hours of classroom instruction, often completed over a period of two weeks, and 6 hours of behind the wheel training, regardless of age. Whereas South Carolina only requires 8 hours of classroom instruction, often which is completed in one day, and 6 hours of behind the wheel training. Driver’s education does its best in educating new drivers about the rules, responsibilities, and risks of the road. It does not stop drivers from using their cell phone, or other distractions while driving. This program (driver’s education) shows horrific videos of car accidents that happened because the driver was on their cell phone, peer pressure, etc. in an attempt to frighten the new drivers into not using their cell phone and attempting to avoid any distractions, peer pressure, and more. In spite of driver’s education doing its best to teach teen drivers the rules, responsibilities, and risks of the road, many drivers still take major risks and sometimes those risks end badly.
All drivers, especially teen drivers, face many challenges while driving. It could be distractions, peer pressure, lack of experience, and more. One of the biggest challenges they face is the temptation to use their cell phone while driving. Whenever teen drivers use their cell phone, their eyes and attention are on that phone, not the road which causes most of the car accidents today. Using a cell phone when driving, whether it is just to switch the music or look at the GPS, distracts the driver from the road. The driver may change speeds, swerve into another lane, and be unable to pay attention to the road ahead and behind them.
Another challenge to teen drivers is peer pressure. Peer pressure can come from anyone, a friend, stranger, family member, and more. For example, a friend in the car might not be wearing a seatbelt and the teen driver, wanting to appear cool and fit in, then chooses not to also. Or a family member chanting to pass a slow driver on the road, and many other instances in between. Many teen drivers face peer pressure everyday and it is hard to speak up for yourself and say stop. Teen drivers can overcome peer pressure by building confidence with their own driving, having good self-esteem, and assertive communication. Teen drivers can also use strategies, like having an excuse ready about why you are not able to drive someone you are not comfortable with, suggesting other activities instead of driving, or even leaving the situation altogether. Some things that might help with peer pressure is talking about it to a trusted adult and having a supportive friend group that shares similar values.
While I was still living in Maryland and had learner permit, I was driving with my dad in the passenger seat. We got side swept by the car next to us who attempted to make a left hand turn into the same lane that I was inAfter both cars pulled over to the side of the road and checked for damage, we discovered that the driver who side swept us was on their phone and displaying distracted driving. While no one was injured in this accident, it left me scared and nervous to drive again even though it was not my fault. My parents have always told me, “We’re not scared of you driving, we're scared of the people driving around you”. Since that accident, I have never used my phone or presented any other distractions while driving because I do not want to be in that situation where the person who side swept us was in or put anyone else in that situation. All drivers always have to be spatially aware of their surroundings when driving.
There are numerous ways communities can take action to promote safe driving among young people. To promote safe driving and raise awareness, communities can host seminars about the safety and dangers of driving. Since many people use social media, the Department of Motor Vehicles could start a social media campaign, sharing road safety tips, the potential consequences of reckless driving, and stories from car accident survivors. Communities can also promote safe driving apps, that offer feedback on driving behavior and provide safety alerts, like “speed limit check ahead”. Communities have numerous opportunities to promote safe driving among young people, but they have to stay on top of it to make sure it works.
Schools play an important part in promoting safe driving among young people as well. Schools that have their own driver’s education programs can host safe driving workshops on the weekends. Focusing on specific aspects of driving, like recognizing and avoiding distractions, practicing safe merging and lane changing, and the impact that drugs and alcohol have on the human body and driving. Faculty and students can form a driver safety club that focuses on road safety. Another great idea would be allowing students to discuss safe driving practices, organize awareness events, and participate in simulations. schools can promote safe driving among young people by partnering with local companies. Whether it be insurance or food companies, the partnership could be set up with a point system, just like some games are set up, so the safer you are, the more points you accumulate that can turn into rewards Schools should take these specific actions to promote safe driving among young people, reducing the accidents and tickets that many teens get into.
Teens can promote safe driving among their peers by practicing safe driving habits, educating others about the risks of unsafe driving, and speaking up against unsafe driving. Teen drivers can take any opportunity when driving to be a role model for safe driving and encourage the passengers in the car to wear seatbelts and not engage in risky behaviors. A teen driver should always make sure they are not sleepy when getting behind the wheel, and certainly not under the influence. Teen drivers have the opportunity, just like communities and schools, to promote safe driving among their peers and be good role models, making the roads safer for everyone.