Teen driving is an especially important issue we must focus on when addressing driver and road safety. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers aged 15-20 make up about 5% of all drivers in the United States (NHTSA,2021). However, based on the same study, young drivers make up 12% of drivers in all crashes (ibid). Teen driver safety is an important public issue because it does not just affect them on the roads, it affects everyone they must share the roads with. If someone is not taught how to properly conduct themselves while behind the wheel, it is not only a danger to overall Public Safety, but they are also forming negative habits that will continue with them throughout the rest of their lives. 
Driver education plays a huge role in addressing these issues with teen drivers. Driver education programs, such as Defensive Driving courses, Driver Improvement Programs, and even driving schools, help prepare young drivers for what they might encounter and how to navigate certain situations, like what to do when you are hydroplaning, or how to properly conduct a K turn. Proper Driver Education does not just reduce the risk of improper driving practices, but it also teaches and encourages safety on the road.

Some of the biggest challenges teen drivers face today include distracted driving, inebriated driving, and a lack of experience. Examples of distracted driving teenagers exhibit include texting while driving, eating while driving, or interacting with other passengers in the car. According to the NHTSA, over 3,000 people died in 2023 due to distracted driving (NHTSA,2023). Inebriated driving includes driving drunk or high. Being under the influence of any drugs impairs vision and reaction time (Uren, Brad). Many teens may find it hard to overcome these challenges by themselves. Many of the issues said stem from peer pressure, a lack of proper education, and impulsivity. Through comprehensive driver education programs, practicing proper driving techniques, self-correction, and discipline, teenagers will be influenced to unlearn dangerous driving habits that contribute to vehicular accidents and fatalities.

I am so passionate about driver safety because I have been in so many car accidents and near accidents as a child. My father was not the best driver, and while few of the accidents were his fault, he still took part in distracting activities while driving, like smoking cigarettes while driving and eating while driving. The worst accident we were in before he died involved a drunk teenager ramming into the side of the truck. I was in the backseat at the time, and the truck ended up having to be totaled. Everyone was fine at the time; however, this experience, along with many others, made me into the cautious driver I am today. Being in my early 20s, I also see how other young adults handle driving. I feel as though we should change the narrative behind why we drive and stress why it is such a privilege to be able to. So many people think once they get a driver's license, it just freedom, and they do not necessarily take it as seriously as they should. My internship at the Motor Vehicle Commission of New Jersey over this past summer strongly influenced me to be more involved in the education and encouragement of proper driving etiquette. Proper driver education for teenagers can prevent the formation of bad driving habits and encourage good ones. Someone must know how to properly conduct themselves on the road once they get their license, so that those positive habits can stick with them for life. It is much harder to teach someone positive driving habits if they are already stuck in their ways after years of driving.

Actions communities can take to promote safe driving among young people include hosting informational town halls, broadcasting PSAs, holding demonstrations, and students can even take it upon themselves to encourage other students to do the research and take time to educate themselves on the rules of the road and why we must follow them. While students now learn the dangers of things like drunk driving or distracted driving, their brains are still not developed, and often they do not think for the long term; they can be very impulsive. Holding Town halls, where actual victims and even perpetrators of things like inebriated driving or distracted driving could come out and talk about their experiences and how those accidents shaped not only their driving record but also other aspects of their lives someone might not think about such as trauma or having to deal with being ostracized or feeling immense remorse after a night of a drunken mistake. 

By having someone come out and talk to the teens, it will make these situations feel so much more real, and they will be able to put themselves in the other person's shoes more effectively. Earlier, I discussed peer pressure and how it can encourage the formation of negative driving habits; however, it can also be used to promote positive driving habits. Teenagers who are educated on safe driving practices and the true dangers and life-threatening consequences of improper driving are more likely to go out and talk to their friends and families about it. They are also more likely to correct a peer who is putting themselves and others in danger. As a Public Health Major, I am deeply passionate about the promotion of health in all forms, and it is my professional opinion that comprehensive, in-depth education around driving is the perfect way to prevent negative driving habits in teenagers and promote safe driving practices.