According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, teen drivers are susceptible to crashing in the first month of unsupervised driving at a rate that is 50% higher compared to the first two years of overall experience. Some of the common factors is failing to reduce speed, poor reaction times, failure to yield, and lack of attention.
Simple things such as maintaining separation, familiarization of breaking times, and basic eye and hand coordination are often taken for granted after years of experience behind the wheel. For new teen drivers, these are skills that are developed over the first two years of experience. This is rather disconcerting to those of us that share the road with these potential risks. So what can be done to bridge this experience gap?
Teen Driver Education In The Spotlight
Each state has its own driver education rules designed to transition teen drivers from the classroom to the highways. Pennsylvania recently passed a new law that enforces additional training requirements on teen driver programs. Sponsored by Katharine Watson (R-PA), H.B.-9 goes into effect on November 28, 2011 limiting the number of teen passengers, and behind the wheel hours will be raised from 50 – 65 with the additional hours designated for night and inclement weather conditions.
Considering these alarming statistics, more states should review their driver education programs. The addition of mobile electronics to the equation only adds to the distractions and will undoubtedly pad these statistics further. If we look back at the time we attended driving school and recall the anxiety of entering the freeway for the first time or passing the driver test, it is easy to understand that inexperience teen drivers need further assistance.
Teen Driver Education Needs To Be Reinforced By Parents
With teen driver accidents being the number one cause of deaths in the 16-19 year old age group, parents need to take an active and on-going role in their child’s driving development. Expecting the state minimums in teen driver education to satisfy parental obligations is a big mistake. October 16 – 22 is the National Teen Driver Safety Week and reminds us all to help make a difference. Law enforcement agencies will also be reinforcing this message.
We at TriStar Security recommend additional one on one behind the wheel sessions for at least the first two to three months after receiving their license. Additional tools are available to parents such as real-time GPS tracking device that allows parents immediate access to the whereabouts of their vehicles. Speed alerts can also send text messages and/or emails when they exceed a predetermined limit. In addition, some insurance companies offer a premium discount for real-time GPS tracking devices. For those that want a no-fee GPS tracking solution, passive GPS tracking devices will capture second by second data that can be downloaded and reviewed later. Either way, these GPS tracking devices provide peace of mind at the most critical time in a teen driver’s education behind the wheel.
