I’ve been driving a car for more than 45 years now. Or, to quote my driver ed instructor, with the ONE piece of information he provided me, I’ve been operating a vehicle for more than 45 years now. His exact statement was, “I am only able to teach you how to operate a vehicle. After you master that, you will finally be able to drive one.” Which is why he followed me home often, making me walk several miles to double back and retrieve my car. Because he knew that I was driving a car- and clearly had been doing so for a long time before I took his driver ed course.
I was a responsible driver. Of course, my definition of responsibility changed dramatically when I was 17 ½ years old and was ticketed for driving over the limit- 52 in a 50. (I doubt their speedometer was even that accurate!) From that point on, it was clear to me that if I were going to be ticketed for speeding, I might as well earn it. (Some folks do not agree that I ever retired as a race car driver…) But, that’s not the subject of this blog post, anyway.
I live in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Which has had its share of terrible crashes. And, because of that several years ago, passed a series of laws that outlawed teenage drivers from carrying more than 2 people in their car- unless the charges were siblings. As a safety measure. Because so many teenage drivers seem to lose their minds when they have a crowd behind them in the back seat.
And, now there’s more data to substantiate these claims. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety just published a report, Teen Driver Risk in Relation to Age and Number of Passengers. The report is based upon more current data- data since states (in addition to Virginia) limited the number of passengers when there is a teenaged driver (2007-2010, at most). The results are sobering, at least.
With teenage drivers (16 or 17) and one passenger under the age of 21, the risk of dying from a crash (rates per 100 million miles, NOT in absolute numbers) was increased by 44%. But, with two passengers, the risk doubled. Three passengers- the risk was 4X that when the driver was the sole passenger in the vehicle. Adding in a passenger age 35 or older, and the risk decreased by 62% – and the risk of any crash was reduced by 46%. Moreover, the risk of dying increased 6 fold, if the driving occurred between 10 PM and 6 AM.
The other issue is that teenaged driver did not have significantly more accidents, when 1 or 2 other young passengers were present. 3 passengers doubled the rate of accidents. So, when they had an accident, it was bound to be more lethal.
I didn’t get my lisc. until I was 18 even though most of my peers got theirs at 16. That was my choice, and frankly my parents were a bit shocked by it. Honestly, I didn’t think I was ready for the responsibility that was driving. Probably in part due to riding with some of my peers and thinking wow if we don’t die because of this bone head it will be a miracle. In fact, it might have been my first earnest prayer to G-d. Which he apparently did answers since I’m still here. lol I like the law that limits riders with teen drivers, I’d also support raising the driving age. Anything that gives them a chance to grow up to become adults. Thank you for sharing the sad facts with us, Dr. A. If nothing else I hope it gives parents who read your blog the idea to enforce this kind of thing state law or not.
Lisa Brandel recently posted..The Painted Lady by Lisa Brandel
I think a lot of these sort of laws have been developed because parents don’t take the time to be parents any longer, Lisa!
Great information, Roy! In our “live free or die” state, kids can have only one passenger (which does not have to be a family member) for the first six months of having their license, and then it’s a free-for-all after that. These numbers are very sobering. We have a rule that Ben can only have one person in the car and he’s had his license for just over 6 months. And he can’t drive anyone if it is a long distance of any kind. I not only want to protect the passenger, but also Ben for ever having to live with an irreversible tragic mistake. Thanks for following through on your Tuesday promise – on my birthday too! 🙂
Suerae Stein recently posted..There Better be a Rainbow…
Yup- maybe that’s why it stayed in the queue so long- so it would serve as that Birthday present for you, Suerae.
These are very sobering statistics. I am glad these rules are being passed to cut back on wrecks and deaths.
Janette Fuller recently posted..Oprah’s New Book Club 2.0
One would hope that education could alleviate these issues. I don’t recall behaving differently when I had friends in the car, but it was a more than few decades ago…
Roy
Great information as always Roy. As far as driver’s ed goes – I took the course the summer between my sophomore and junior year of school. I subsequently scheduled my driving test for the afternoon of the first day of class so that I could drive to school the rest of the year. Needless to say, I failed four times (always screwing up the parallel parking) during my junior year. In fact, I may blog about this tomorrow….thanks for the idea – too bad you don’t work on commission 😉
Tor Constantino recently posted..Me, Myself and Lies
My commission would probably wipe out your royalties from your book, Tor. Be glad I don’t!
Thanks for your comment- and glad to see that you finally mastered parallel parking…
Makes perfect sense. Teenage brains are not mature yet and act differently than most adults (most lol) Figuring out where the problems lie and adjusting the laws to support this makes far more sense than banning them from driving or some such nonsense.
And Roy…I bet you’re a spectacular race car driver lol
Bonnie recently posted..Achievement and Your Mindset
Yes, Bonnie, teenage brains are not fully developed, as you mention. I still would hope, with training, their responses would be different.
And, I no longer race cars (on a track), so it has to be past tense- and, thank you, for that consideration, as well.
Roy
Great info, Roy. We were not popular parents when our kids were learning to drive. They were allowed no passengers other than the occasional sibling for about six months and were not allowed to ride with any of their friends for even longer (that was our review time). I remember one of our son’s friends asking when our son could ride with him. We told him we loved our son too much to let that happen for a while. Now that our kids are older, they get it.
Bonnie Anderson recently posted..B.Y.O.E. (Bring Your Own Engineer)
I, too, Bonnie, followed your advice with my youngest. And, yes, he got it, too- especially when he learned (from them) the stories of his step-siblings.
Glad to know you already knew these statistics, Bonnie. Thanks so much for bringing more “fodder” to the discussion.
Roy
Oh it makes me shudder every time I see my son pull out of our driveway. These stats are eye opening Roy. I didn’t know that the number of people driving with a teen the rates of accidents and deaths went up that much.
We also have a real issue about teens using cell phones. My son had actually taken a picture of his speedometer going 90 miles per hour on the freeway and still while driving he shared it on Facebook!!! I saw it on Facebook and of course had give my mother shout out to my son — what is he thinking?!
Thank you for sharing this information Roy – I am going to share this with him, with hopes it just might help!
Lynn Brown recently posted..How LinkedIn Can Generate More Leads Than Facebook and Twitter Do
Lynn:
Obviously, taking a picture and posting it to Facebook at ANY speed is a dangerous practice. That is among the “uses” of cellphones that gives folks the data to claim that cell phone use is dangerous while driving. (I agree that texting, photo taking, reading eMail, are all dangerous while driving. Talking – hands free- while driving is no more distracting or dangerous than talking with [maybe less so, since one does not feel tempted to turn to face] passengers in the front or back seat or listening to the radio. [I wrote about this here: https://www.adjuvancy.com/wordpress/http:/www.adjuvancy.com/wordpress/wtf-moment-stopped/%5D
Glad to hear you stomped on that activity by your son. And, yes, one would hope this data would be a sobering event.
Thanks for your comments, your elucidations, and contributions to the discussion. I appreciate it immensely.
Roy
Those stats are incredibly scary. With texting and other distractions, those numbers aren’t going to go down for a long time. I’ll make sure I show this to my younger son who will get his learners’ permit soon.
Lisa Kanarek recently posted..How to Go From a Corporate Office to a Home Office
Yes, Lisa, they give one pause. I shared them with my son when he first began driving (of course, they were not published, so he argued about their veracity- he IS my son…), but he figured out there was way too much truth in the concept.
Hi Roy,
Wow, these statistics are scary. Here in Raleigh NC, I have seen so many teen accidents and deaths. What’s even more alarming is how many of these young people are learning how to drive while talking on their cell or texting from their cell.
I was scared to death when my sons started driving. Now, they are grown and in their 20s but it’s still scary when I think about all the drivers these days using the technology to distract them.
Thanks for the information.
Cindy
Cindy Murphy recently posted..9 Benefits to Outsourcing Your Small Business
There is great danger with texting. That is true regardless of age, Cindy. Virginia and a few other states outlaw teenagers from cell phone use while driving- period.
The issue in the study, however, was the “group think” that develops when there are multiple teenagers in the vehicle.
This is kind of surprising for many but I didn’t get my license until last year! I just didn’t need it! I lived in cities with wonderful public transport and never bothered with a license.
But talking about teens, the scenario is scary this end. Though the minimum age for obtaining a license is 18; teens don’t bother with the rules. And those who manage to get behind the wheel while young do end up terribly. The concept of speed is more thrilling than a thing to be careful about.
Well,a lot of things go behind it. A have some teenage cousins who are beautiful drivers. They know their speed limits and their limits and they do just fine!
Hajra recently posted..You Spik Inglish?
Glad to hear that, Hajra…
I grew up near New York City, which is one place where many folks don’t have licenses (and many that have them seem to not know how to drive….)