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Abstract: 

Many parents view their teen’s ability to drive a car as a rite of passage, providing their child with a new means toward independence. However, novice drivers face significant risks, and parents must be vigilant as their teens advance through the stages of licensure and beyond.The fatal crash rate for drivers ages 16 to 19, based on miles driven, is four times higher than for drivers ages 25 to 69. Susan Pedo, from the National Safety Council, shows that driver inexperience is a significant cause of the alarming crash rate among teenage drivers. Using data from various sources, she demonstrates the effectiveness of graduated license state programs. It takes up to eight years to become an experienced driver, according to National Safety Council defensive driving instructor Gary Horne. Driving is a learned behavior in many changing weather and road conditions. Distractions from other passengers have been found to be a contributing cause in teenage crashes.

Keywords: Accident risk factors; graduated licensing; parents supplement GDL systems; DriveitHOME

Affiliations:  1: National Safety Council.