The leading cause of death for teens under age 20 is car accidents. With that in mind, automotive services giant AAA is trying to work with state legislatures nationwide to create stricter laws that promote safe teen driving. Research suggests immaturity and inexperience lead to the inordinately high percentage of teen car accident fatalities, as well as a tendency for distracted driving such as cell phone use.
AAA is focusing on a nationwide effort to improve states' graduated licensing programs. Nearly every state has a three-tiered graduated license program where teens first need some form of probationary license before driving. Often these programs forbid or restrict certain activities for teen drivers, such as requiring adult supervision for those with a learner's permit. However, only 5 states currently meet AAA's entire recommended program.
Some of AAA's suggested improvements include:
- Restrict night driving for teens driving alone
- Limit the number of passengers allowed who are under 21
- Improve driver education
- Ban texting while driving and cell phone use
In addition to suggested amendments to state laws, AAA offers advice to parents with teenagers learning to drive. One example is creating a "driving agreement" that clearly states rules and expectations for the teen while driving.
Texting While Driving
AAA had success in 2010 promoting laws banning text messaging while driving, getting 11 states to enact laws forbidding the practice in 2010 alone, and bringing the total number up to 30. This came after several studies suggesting that text messaging while driving was as dangerous as drunk driving.
A joint study by the magazine Seventeen and AAA found that 86 percent of teenagers have driven distracted, and a significant percentage of teens texted while driving. Those who texted while driving did so on average 23 times per month.
Making Roads Safer
While AAA and state legislatures continue to attempt to make the roads safer for teens, unfortunate accidents sometimes happen. If you have been injured in a car accident, you may be able to recover compensation for some of the unfortunate costs arising from the accident. Contact a local personal injury attorney to discuss your situation.
