Teen Driving Age This Month,

Teen Driving Age

This month, a number of lawmakers in the state of Nevada began pushing for the passage of a bill that would raise the age of teenagers getting their automobile licenses (Hagar). The legislators supporting the law report statistics as their main reason (Opposition): For example, according to the United States Department of Public Safety, in 2002, 6,327 American youths -- from 16 to 20 -- were killed in traffic accidents. Similar bills in Nevada previously failed, although they were enthusiastically supported by a number of bipartisan legislators. Also, last week in Maryland, bills proposed by the governor and legislative advocates requested greater parental involvement and harsher penalties for driving infringements. (Gavant). Should such laws be passed? Are they fair to teenagers? Further, will they do as desired and lower the fatality and accident rates? Regardless of what those who agree with the bill say, such legislation will probably not significantly decrease the accident numbers. In addition, these bills probably are prejudicial against younger teens (CLAIM)

Those in favor of moving the driving age upward point to the conclusions of a series of research papers printed in the January 2003 special issue of the Journal of Safety Research (Lin) that make a compelling case for older drivers (Opposition). According to the report, accident risk is highest among the most inexperienced teens. Drivers 16 years of age experience crashes almost three times as often as more experienced drivers ages 18 to 19. As noted, the key word here is "inexperienced." If drivers are only a couple of years older, but still inexperienced, will it make a sizeable difference? No matter what their age, new drivers are probably going to have the same amount of inexperience and be just as dangerous (Refutation). Further, the statistics quoted above from the United States Department of Public Safety cover the accidents of youth and young adults from 16 to 20. Does this mean that it would be best to wait until the age of 20 to have a permanent license? (Refutation). Even those who want older teens on the road would be hard pressed to agree with this.

Kenneth Beck, University of Maryland professor of public and community health, and doctoral student Mary Moser, conducted a study last year for Maryland Highway Safety Office State Highway Administration. They found it is not only young teenagers who are guilty of reckless driving (Refutation). Older individuals also report not being as safe as possible behind the wheel (Refutation). Beck said the most surprising result of what he hopes will be an annual study was that almost 12% of individuals surveyed, or one in nine, admitted to driving after having a few drinks (Refutation). The respondents, who covered all age groups, also said that in the past month they:

• Drove while drowsy - 22%;

• Drove 20 or more miles per hour over the speed limit - 13%;

• Drove aggressively - 11%;

• Encountered an aggressive driver - 48%;

• Ran a stop sign or traffic light - 9%;

• Got a ticket or citation - 5%.

The Maryland Highway survey also asked drivers about their most critical traffic concerns. Speeding and aggressive driving topped the list. In addition, 75% or more said their biggest worries were drunk driving, underage drinking, road rage, running stop signs and lights, cell phones and distracted, drowsy or inattentive drivers. Those who strongly back the raising of the driving age also quote alcohol abuse as a serious consideration (Opposition). The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that over three million teenagers are out-and-out alcoholics. Several million more have a serious drinking problem that they cannot manage on their own. One of the leading causes of death for 15-to 24-year-olds is automobile crashes (Opposition).

Two problems exist with this substance abuse-related argument (Refutation). First of all, the statistics are based on young adults up to 24 years old. There would be no way that anyone would agree to keeping people away from the wheel that long, yet these 24-year-olds can be just as dangerous and prone to drinking habits. Secondly, although substance abuse is a major problem with younger drivers, what about the older ones? Hardcore drunk drivers, defined as "individuals who drive with a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of.15 or above, who do so repeatedly, as demonstrated by having more than one drunk driving arrest, and who are highly resistant to changing their behavior despite previous sanctions, treatment, or education efforts," account for a disproportionately large share of drunk driving problems. For example, it is estimated that while drivers with BACs in excess of.15 are only 1% of all drivers on weekend nights, they are involved in nearly 50% of all fatal crashes at that time. In the United States in 1995, almost one-third of all fatally injured drivers had BACs in excess of.15, and they represent almost two-thirds of all fatally injured drivers who had been drinking. These hard-core drunk drivers are not youths, but individuals who have been drinking for numerous years and have usually been involved with other accidents (Refutation).

Further, although the number of drunk drivers overall has declined, the number of BACs has not done so with the same consistency (Refutation). In 1986, 41% of fatally injured drivers in the age group of 25 to 45 had BACs in excess of.15. In 1996, this had declined by only 10%.

Beck, from the University of Maryland, stresses that safe driving by teenagers should not be the responsibility of the legislature but of the parents or caregivers (Refutation):

They need to do a much better job of monitoring and restricting the driving privileges of their teens. Research has shown that parents who set restrictions and engage in active monitoring of their teens have teens who are significantly less likely to report a variety of high risk activities, including unsafe driving.

Research also shows that parents are fairly unaware of the actual level of risk-taking that their teens engage in when they drive. Thus, their perceived vulnerability to these events is lower than it should be.

Some of the things that caring parents can do to improve their son or daughter's driving ability are: Talking to them about responsibilities long before getting a permit; modeling good driving habits; not using the driving permit as a reward or punishment; and being overly concerned about any substance abuse prior to their child getting behind the wheel (Refutation).

According to a 2004 Liberty Mutual/SADD Teen Driving Study, role modeling by adults is very important. The survey clearly shows that parental influence on teen drivers most likely helps to explain a distinct disconnect between how teens view themselves as drivers and their actual driving habits. Nearly nine out of 10 teens (89%) describe themselves as safe drivers. Yet many engage in risky behaviors that often lead to crashes, including speeding, neglecting to use safety belts, and talking on a cell phone while driving. In addition, many teens do not view these behaviors as dangerous, again suggesting that they believe they are safe because their parents drive the same way (Refutation):

Twenty-seven percent of all high school students and 33% of middle school students think speeding is safe.

Twenty-five percent all high school students and 29% of middle school students say driving without a safety belt is safe.

Twenty-four percent of high school students and 32% of middle school students say talking on a cell phone while driving is safe.

The Liberty Mutual/SADD Teen Driving Study is a subset of the company's annual "Teens Today" project that studies and reports on teens' behaviors, attitudes and decision-making about such issues as driving, drinking, drug use, sexual activity and family/peer relationships and provides solutions for families to address these issues. This year's study reports on the completion of a total of 3,574 self-administered surveys by middle and high school students in sixth through twelfth grade.

Another concern that is raised regarding the increase of the driving age is prejudice. Should all teenagers be punished for those who drive recklessly? All adult drivers are surely not punished because of rash adults (Refutation). Groups that are concerned with the civil liberties of youth questioned whether or not increasing the driving age legislation infringes on the rights of those impacted -- namely younger teenagers. When passing a bill, it is necessary to look at the ramifications that may occur. For example, it possibly could be much harder for 16-year-olds to get to work if they cannot drive.

Although reckless teenage driving always results in too many ("any" is too many) tragic deaths, most teens demonstrate the maturity and knowledge of safety on the road (Refutation). Older students become more involved members of the community; driving reflects the independence of many teens and allows them to reach sports events as well as academic competitions and encourages them to be more independent and productive members of society (Refutation). The state governments should crack down on teenage drinking, the most prevalent threat posed on the road, but not reduce the age. Some people think that 16 is too young for people to be driving because teenagers are not responsible (Opposition). However, the frequent requirement of taking a course, as well as passing a driving test and having 40 hours of experience, shows that not just anyone can become a driver. It takes time, interest and commitment. In response to those who call for graduated driving laws, in most cases this already exists (Refutation) with learning permits at 16 and full licenses at 17.