Verified Document

Traffic Fatalities Term Paper

Related Topics:

Teen Traffic Accidents & Fatalities According to the Institute for Highway Safety, in every developed country around the world, teenage drivers are considered a major hazard. In the United States, this problem is magnified, as American teenagers are allowed to get their licenses at an earlier age than in most other countries, and little driving experience is required before licenses are issued (AAP, 2005). In addition, American driver's licenses are inexpensive and easy to obtain, making them widely accessible to teenagers. As a result, this country has a greatly elevated crash risk among young drivers.

While teenagers drive less than all other age groups, with the exception of the oldest Americans, the number of crashes and vehicle-related fatalities are high amongst this age group (AAP, 2005). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): "The risk of crash involvement per mile driven among drivers 16-19 years old is 4 times the risk among older drivers. Risk is highest at age 16-17. In fact, the crash rate per mile driven is almost 3 times as high among 16-year-olds as it is among 18-19-year-olds. Motor vehicle death rates per 100,000 people in 1997 peaked at age 18 (drivers) and 17-18 (passengers). Crashes are a leading cause of disability related to head and spinal cord injuries in this age group."

For teenagers, driving a car poses several...

According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, automobile accidents are the number one cause of death for 15- to 20-year-olds (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2004). Sixteen-year-old drivers have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age group (Coping.org, 2005). These young t drivers are also more likely to participate in risky behaviors, such as speeding and tailgating. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that "the part of the brain that weighs risks, makes judgments and controls impulsive behavior is still developing in teens, and does not mature until about age 25." For these reasons, many states and agencies are making efforts to reduce teenage automobile accidents.
Recent statistics reveal that motor vehicle death rates in 2002 were 26 per 100,000-16-year-old teenagers (Child Trends Databank, 2005). This number remained relatively stable until age 25. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2003) reported that 40% of all teen deaths in the United States are caused by car accidents. The U.S. Department of Transportation (2003) fuelled concern with its recent report, which revealed that more than 5,000 youth ages 16 to 19 were killed in 2002 and approximately 482,000 youth ages 16 to 20 were injured in motor vehicle…

Sources used in this document:
These road restrictions are not fully supported, however. Many teenagers argue that it is unfair that all teenagers are punished for the mistakes of a limited group of peers. "Maturity doesn't start at age 18; it differs with ages and people," wrote high-school senior Jessica L. Durga in an editorial in the Detroit Free Press (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2004). She complained that passenger restrictions are unfair because "passengers often help the driver see oncoming cars."

Many parents support teenagers' complaints that new limitations may be going too far. Some believe that parents should decide how their kids drive -- not governments. "It's up to parents to decide if and when their kids should drive. ... I get tired of the state telling me how to bring up my children," argued Connecticut parent Debra Gaudette in the Hartford Courant (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2004).

Proponents of teenage driving restrictions disagree with these points-of-view. "It is unacceptable to have so many young people dying," said Gayle Berry, the state representative who sponsored the bill to increase the driving age in Colorado (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2004). Some teenagers support this stance, as well. Michigan teenager Shea Rabidoux believes that limiting passengers is a good idea. "I know a lot of dangerous ... drivers. If the ... bill [to limit the number of
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Opportunities to Reduce Traffic Accidents
Words: 2611 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Paper

In addition, a growing number of countries in the region have also started strict traffic sign and signal enforcement campaigns (Martin, 2005). In addition, launched in 2009, a governmental campaign to reduce traffic accidents in the Sultanate of Oman has sought to raise awareness among Omanis concerning the need to use safety belts in general and the need to use safety seats for young children every time people take

Teenage Driving Fatalities. The Writer
Words: 2320 Length: 8 Document Type: Term Paper

(8-16) Furthermore, the tendency to take risks may be increased by peer pressure, emotional lability, and other stresses. Finally, teenagers drive more frequently under higher risk conditions (ie, at night and/or without seatbelts). (1) The American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and other governmental, private, and professional organizations have recommended legislation to institute a program of graduated driver licensing (GDL). These programs remove driving restrictions in

Alcohol Reaction Nhtsa Traffic Safety
Words: 1367 Length: 5 Document Type: Thesis

The study concluded that there were significant differences in the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of the degassed and the regular champagne. These results will be of importance in the proposed study because they will provide further baseline information to compare the results. The data from this study is also important because it suggests that the high CO2 content of champagne may increase the rate of absorption. If these results are

Drunk Driving
Words: 1071 Length: 3 Document Type: Research Paper

Drunk Driving Trends and Effects Drunk driving and driving under the influence in general is a major problem in the United States. The problem is a common cause of traffic accidents and traffic fatalities and demonstrates a pervasive legal and social issue that has yet to be adequately solved and may even be increasing in occurrence as the population spreads into larger and larger areas. (Flahardy 4) According to Flahardy statistics

Prosperity in the Developing Nations
Words: 6827 Length: 25 Document Type: Dissertation

Because transportation infrastructure and services are important components of the urban system, they need to be sustainable and contribute to economic growth rather than harm the people that rely on them for their livelihoods. According to Asri and Hidayat (2005), "The expansion of social and economic activities has resulted in rising pollution and environmental degradation following the economic crisis in Jakarta Metropolitan area where environmental regulations were largely disregarded"

Alcohol and Highway Safety Vehicle Crashes Have
Words: 2390 Length: 9 Document Type: Research Paper

Alcohol and Highway Safety Vehicle crashes have been accounted as the leading cause of death in the 15-20-age group of drivers and most of these crashes are alcohol-related. About 1/5 of all U.S. drivers admit to driving while or after drinking and 4 out of 5 of them are legally impaired. There have been prevention laws and further recommendations to prevent drunk driving but violations and fatalities persist. Suggested legislations to

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now