Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens aging 15 through 19. This would suggest that teens do not have the maturity to drive starting at the young age of 15. At this age, most teens do not understand the responsibility of buying a vehicle and/or insuring a vehicle. Most early teen drivers receive these benefits from a guardian or parent(s). Without any responsibility, it is unreasonable to expect a teen to take driving seriously since they are not the ones paying for it. It is not until they bear the burden of the cost that they seriously consider the importance of safe driving. A vehicle becomes a valuable asset if the asset is obtained through personal hard work.
With this in mind, increasing the driving age to 17 will increase the likelihood that the teen purchased or at least purchased or helped purchase the insurance for the vehicle with their own money. Even a fender-bender will increase insurance rates and, when a teen pays for the increased insurance, this accident will greatly affect the concentration level of the teen driver for fear of the increased cost. Also, at the more mature age of 17, using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle may decrease due to the teen driving to work or to college. The responsibility level of the teen and the fewer distractions of driving with several friends will decrease the probability of an accident.
Other than increasing the age to drive, since many states have called for this, there can be more regulation placed upon cellular devices. In this age of technology, States should require the teen driver to carry a tracking device to track the number of hours driven on the permit. Currently, it is a person’s word rather than concrete evidence and proof that the teen driver spent the required hours behind the wheel. A device should be assigned to each teen driver during the permit period so it will track the actual required hours needed. This device will also track the time of day the teen drives. If it registers after 10:00 p.m. during the permit period, the teen driver must wait until they reach the age of 18 and must start the permit process from the beginning. All hours driven on the previous permit will be deemed null and void. Many would argue that this is an invasion of privacy. However, those same people may have some things to hide. To be honest, if we know we are doing the right thing, in this case logging the required hours to receive a license, then there is no need to be upset. We are obeying the law.
For teens 18 to 19 years old, the requirements during the permit period should be as strict as the requirements for 15 to 17 years. This will reduce the number of accidents because not all teens have the money to pay for private driving lessons. It may also extend the permit period into the 20’s and thus increasing the maturity level of the new driver.
In addition to these measures, all high schools should be required to stage a realistic crash scene complete with destroyed vehicles and crash victims both direct (in the vehicle) and indirect (in the surrounding area of the crash). This should be a two to three day event complete with fictitious casualties, funerals, grief counseling, and other events associated with a fatal motor vehicle crash. The education should highlight easy-to-remember statistics like the number of accidents and fatalities directly related to cell phone use. The education should also touch on driver distraction of having friends in the vehicle or just eating a messy hamburger while driving. There are a couple high schools that have implemented this idea. Every four years, they put on such an act to make real to its students the consequences of irresponsible driving. While some students may not take to heart the seriousness of this, others view it as a warning and heed to it. Sadly, there are always going to be young drivers who will have to learn the hard way. But it is the states’ responsibility to implement certain methods to increase awareness to those who will listen.
https://mattsharplaw.com/news/cellphone-textalyzer-device/
https://mattsharplaw.com/news/blind-spot-safety/
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