Poor Hazard Detection- The ability to detect hazards in the driving environment depends upon perceptual and information-gathering skills and involves properly identifying what is a potential threat. It takes time for young novice drivers to acquire this ability.

Risk Taking- Teens tend to take more risks while driving partly due to their overconfidence in their driving abilities. Young novice drivers are more likely to engage in risky behaviors like speeding, tailgating, running red lights, violating traffic signs and signals, making illegal turns, passing dangerously, and failure to yield to pedestrians.  

Not Wearing Seat Belts- Teenagers tend to wear seat belts less often than older drivers do.

Distracters- Using the cell phone, text messaging, playing loud music, eating while driving all detract from paying attention to being a safe driver or passenger.

Carrying Passengers- For teens, the risk of being in a crash increases when they transport passengers. The fatality risk of drivers aged 16- 17 years is 3.6 times higher when they are driving with passengers than when they are driving alone, and the relative risk of a fatal crash increases as the number of passengers increases.

What can help?

Following the Graduated Driver License Program- a multi-tiered program designed to ease young novice drivers into full driving privileges as they become more mature and develop their driving skills. By requiring more supervised practice, the State of Tennessee hopes to save lives and prevent tragic injuries. Tennessee’s GDL Program started on July 1, 2001 and was spearheaded by a Memphis family whose teenage son was also killed in a car crash. It places certain restrictions on teens under the age of 18 who have learner permits and driver licenses. The program requires parent/legal guardian involvement, and emphasizes the importance of a good driving record.

Recently, I have received many anecdotal comments suggesting that many parents do not always insist and many teens do not always follow the rules of the GDL. These rules, such as limiting the times to drive and the number of passengers to transport, are good rules- and can be lifesaving rules. Research shows that teens whose parents limit initial driving privileges are less likely to engage in risky driving behaviors later.

A Driver’s Education Course- Courses that provide many hours of hands-on experience with a professional instructor who teaches ways to reduce risk, including hazard recognition, vehicle handling, space management and speed management is recommended.

Supervised Driving Practice- Plan a series of practice sessions with a variety of situations including night driving. Supervised practice should be spread over at least a six-month period of time.

Required Seat Belt Use- Don’t assume that belt use when you’re in the car with your teen means belts will be used all the time, especially when your child is out with peers.

Choosing Vehicles for Safety, not Image- Teenagers should drive vehicles that reduce their chances of a crash and offer protection in case they do crash. Avoid trucks and sport utility vehicles — the smaller ones, especially, are more prone to roll over.

I hope this may help save the life of a precious teenager. The pain of losing a child so young is the pain no parent should have to endure.