The Wrong Side of the Road
In recent years, more than 5,900 teenagers died in the United States from motor vehicle crash injuries. Such injuries are by far the leading public health problem for young people 13-19 years old (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety [IIHS], 2004). Drivers are not the only ones at risk. Teenagers who are passengers in others vehicles make up a startling 87% of the fatality statistic. Lack of driving experience, disregard for traffic laws, and quick access to full driving privileges contribute to teen death. To reduce teen driving fatalities, successful completion of driver education classes provided by public and private schools should be mandatory for all teenagers prior to receiving their driving permit.Most teens start learning to drive by the time they are 15 years old. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were “191.3 million licensed drivers in the United States in 2001. Young drivers, between 15 and 20 years old, accounted for 6.6 p
Driving gives teens a sense of freedom. They are in charge once their driving permit is in hand and the key is in the ignition. However, freedom comes at a cost and too much to soon can be fatal. For example, as reported in an article by IIHS, “The horrific crash that took Tiffany Accardi’s life and the lives of four others prompted Florida legislators to pass a law that phases in driving privileges for teenagers.” (1999, p. 16). This recent mandate requires teens to pass a written test, and to complete traffic law and substance abuse education courses. This common sense approach coupled with driver education in the classroom will save lives. Our teens deserve the privilege of driving only after they successfully complete these classes and examinations. Obeying the traffic laws appear to be difficult for most teenagers. “Beginner drivers are more likely to engage in risky behavior such as speeding, passing inappropriately, tailgating, and driving without using safety belts. At the same time, th
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Approximate Word count = 680
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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