Reinforce Safe Driving for Teen Drivers at Back to School Time
Posted on Mon, Aug 22, 2011
The statistics available on teen motorists are both eye opening and sobering. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens in the nation. New drivers are four times more likely to be killed and 14 times more likely to be injured than any other group. By a 2-to-1 margin, teens are more likely to kill someone with them than themselves.
The main causes of crashes amongst publicized teen fatalities were speed and inexperience. Alcohol, failure to wear a seat belt, and emotional distractions such as peer pressure and lack of sleep also often play parts in both fatal and non-fatal crashes. Passenger and time restrictions are in place to decrease the likelihood of youth being involved in vehicle crashes. This is why enforcement of these rules starts at home. You cannot rely on the police to be the sole protectors of children on the roadways. Parents and guardians must set and enforce the rules of the road.
The passenger restriction for a Massachusetts Junior Operator License says that you may not operate a motor vehicle, within the first six (6) months after receiving your “Junior Operator's License” while any person under the age of 18 is in the vehicle (other than yourself or an immediate family member), unless you are accompanied by a person who is at least 21 years old, has at least one year of driving experience, holds a valid driver's license from Massachusetts or another state, and is occupying a seat beside you. If you violate the passenger restriction, you can be subject to license suspension and reinstatement fees as well as a Driver Attitudinal Retraining Course. The length of license suspension increases with each offense. For more details on the penalties, visit JOL License and Permit Violations and Penalties.
State law requires a driver to file a report with the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) for any crash involving a death, serious bodily injury or property damage in excess of $1,000. The numbers below are obtained from these reports for the year 2008. The number of crashes in Massachusetts involving 16, 17, or 18 year old drivers is appalling. The youngest group of drivers, 16 year olds, has the highest percentage of serious accidents of those age groups.
- Three of every ten 16 year old drivers will be in a serious crash (30%).
- Almost one of every five 17 year old drivers will be in a serious crash (17%).
- More than one of every ten 18 year old drivers will be in a serious crash (12%).
Driver training starts much younger than 16. Children observe the driving habits of those around them early on and often put these practices into place when it is his or her turn to get behind the wheel. Set a strong example by being a responsible driver and reinforce good driving habits.
Parents/Guardians need to ensure that their teens are ready to meet this challenge through preparation and an open line of communication. No child under 18 can obtain a driver's license without their parents approval, so a parent should feel free to set a higher driving age if appropriate to the maturity and experience of each child.
Source: Mass.gov