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Running Head: TEENAGE DRIVING
Teenage Driving
[Author's Name]
[Institution's Name]
Teen Age Driving
The driving hazards
always bothered the society, as a whole and particularly the
teen aged driving hazards have always been a matter of concern.
Jane. A. Brody has written an article, 'Reducing The Risks
For The Teen Age Drivers ' in daily New York Times on October
30, 2001 concerning the same burning issue.
The objective of the paper is to make an
effort to educate teenagers and their parents in recognizing
one of the leading social issue, which needs to be eradicated
with full strength.
The Issue
The ever increasing transport and the fast moving vehicles
have introduced an element of risk for the drivers of all
ages but particularly for the young drivers who tend to drive
the vehicles with larger extent of risks. A 16-year-old driver
is 20 times more likely to have a motor vehicle accident than
any other licensed driver. In fact, the leading base of death
among 16- to 20-year-olds is motor vehicle-related crashes.
Only 5 percent of all licensed drivers are involved in 15
percent of fatal motor vehicle-related crashes.
The second aspect of the issue is the diminishing restrictions
in the alcoholic society, which has contributed considerably
towards independence from very early stages of life. Thus
enabling them to make the decisions with minimum maturity
of mind causing practical problems in their lives.
Why Are Teenage Drivers At Higher Risk?
There are many reasons of teenage drivers being at increased
risk for motor vehicle-related crashes that result in injury
or death which include: -
- Lack of experience by the teenage driver makes them unable
to detect and respond to traffic hazards and control the vehicle
and able to integrate speed as required by the situation.
- Teenagers involve themselves to take more risks as they
are influenced by their emotions, stress, and peer pressure.
In addition, experimenting with alcohol and recreational drugs
can impair the teenager's driving ability.
- Teenage drivers generally do not use their seat belts, increasing
their risk of injury in a crash.
- Another contributing factor to the increased risk to teenager
drivers include nighttime driving. Nigh time driving is more
difficult for anyone, especially the novice driver. Teenagers
tend to do disproportionately more driving at night, increasing
their risk of a fatal motor vehicle crash, as compared to
daytime driving.
- The over confidence which is inherited by the youth normally
makes them casual and results into hazardous driving.
How To Avoid Risks
Efforts to increase public awareness of
the hazards of driving drunk have also played a role. Following
suggestions are made to teenagers and their parents both to
ensure safer driving:
- The teenagers as far as possible should avoid driving and
it should be done only when necessary and unavoidable.
- Emphasis should be given to know as to how important safe
driving is, including the fact that teenagers need to develop
driving skills with supervised practice.
- Parents and adults must set a good driving example for the
younger ones.
- Limits on teenager's driving privileges must be established
such as a limited number of passengers and/or restricted nighttime
driving and speed control.
- Penalties may have to be imposed for irresponsible driving
behavior.
- Teenage drivers driving must be monitored closely by the
parents and by the law enforcement authorities so that remedial
measures can be taken well in time.
- The vehicle being driven is mechanically safe.
- Alcohol-free environments will help parent-peer initiatives
and help teenagers avoid negative peer pressure.
- The teenagers should be put through Graduated licensing
systems and stricter driving restrictions, which will reduce
the driving risks for them.
- The laws should be prepared which should spell the driving
authorization with the perfect knowledge of rules.
- The vehicles should be fixed with speed governors where
the speed limit should be controlled through the apparatus.
Method to communicate
The mass media today plays a very important role in shaping
the minds of the people. The best media that quickly influences
is television as it is watched by majority of the peoples
including parents and teenagers both. This resource should
be utilized effectively through educational programs, advertisements,
entertaining sessions, debates, etc.
Endnotes
1. JANE E. BRODY. Reducing the Risks for Teenage Drivers:
New York Times, October 30, 2001
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