Pragmatic Speak

Yes another study is out providing “statistical” proof of something that’s painfully obvious – teenage drivers are in general more of a threat to themselves, and other drivers, than the average driver.

This study, by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation in Ottawa, Canada, compared driving records of 16-year olds in areas WITH and WITHOUT restrictions on teenage drivers. The study is referenced here in an article on CNN. The conclusion (a big DUH please) of this study: graduated driving license laws (GDL) in Oregon translated into 20% fewer accidents involving injury or death for 16-year olds!

My question: If all the data indicates that on average teen drivers are more dangerous why don’t we do anything about it – to protect them from themselves, and us from them?

I’m not going to turn this into a reference index for traffic fatality statistics. This isn’t new, obscure, or “questionable” information. It’s something KNOWN by anyone out there fighting for their lives on the road every day – and supported by facts. If you have any doubts, or want more specifics, do a search. It’s not hard to find plenty of data that proves the all-too-obvious.

I’ve heard and read many “explanations” for the driving records of the teenage population:

• A lack of experience and driving skills.
• A lack of maturity among teen drivers.
• The effects of peer pressure.
• A lack of focus – distracted drivers.

In my opinion, while there may be some “fact” in these statements, they amount to nothing but excuses for poor personal decision making by teenage drivers (and passengers) and a lack of parental responsibility and accountability.

I’ve also heard a lot of “reasons” why we shouldn’t put restrictions on teenage drivers:

• Teenage drivers need to learn and gain driving experience.
• They have a right to drive just like everyone else.
• Teens need to drive to be able to go to school and work.
• Teens are very active and need personal transportation.
• My kid is different – he/she isn’t like that.

Once again, statements with some “fact” in them, but in the final analysis just more excuses for not solving a problem. The difference here being of course that at least some of these are excuses from parents that don’t want to cart their kids around like a taxi service! Let’s face it folks, a significant portion of the resistance to appropriate restrictions on teenage drivers comes from the parents who would be inconvenienced.

I for one am sick and tired of this problem and believe it needs to be addressed. There’s hardly a day that goes by that I don’t observe, or have to defensively AVOID, a teen driver exhibiting poor driving skills. They are, as a class of drivers, more of a danger to me, you, and everyone else than the average moron behind the wheel (and I admit there are PLENTY of them).

Not addressing the problem costs us in terms of lives – teen drivers and others. I’m not as concerned about the teen drivers and their passengers (decision/consequence – Natural Selection at work) – it’s the innocent victims of those drivers that concern me more (like maybe ME or my FAMILY). This situation also costs every one of us money every day – money that I resent having to shell-out because of the poor decision-making of others (teen drivers and their parents).

So let’s be pragmatic about this and address the problem. Here are a few suggestions to start the thinking process:

• A nationwide Graduated Drivers License (GDL) program with fairly tight restrictions on teen drivers until they demonstrate the skills and maturity necessary to operate a vehicle. Personally, I’d like to see such a program have a “graduation” requirement of an accident/violation free time period before the restrictions are lifted.

• A nationwide law banning the use of cell phones by teen drivers except in emergency (911 calls) situations. Even better, a piece of technology in the phones and vehicles to enforce this by BLOCKING all but 911 calls while the vehicle engine is running. Make them stop the car to text-message their friends!

• Changes in the insurance laws to place less of the “cost” of these drivers on the rest of us in the driver pool and more on the parents or teen policy holder. If the accidents these teens are having were to cost the parents more (out of their pockets), maybe they’d take their role in this more seriously. If nothing else, it would cost the rest of us less in terms of our premiums.

• Pass laws that ban the operation of “modified” vehicles by teen drivers. By that I mean those vehicles modified for enhanced performance. What teen driver needs racing wheels, an engine boost kit, or a high rear spoiler, to drive to McDonald’s to work?

• And finally, changes in the law to place more of the burden of responsibility on the parents of these teen drivers. If there were more consequences for the parents (read: monetary) for the poor decision-making of their kids – maybe they’d be a little more responsible as a parent.

Just some pragmatic suggestions for addressing this very real problem. I know NONE of these will sit well with everyone. They all TAKE rights away from people – that’s BAD in this Country! Only EVIL people want to take away our rights. But remember:

Driving is NOT a right – it’s a PRIVILEGE that needs to be earned!

The RIGHT that needs to be protected here is yours and mine – the right to survive our trip down the highway.

We need to do everything we can to turn driving into a PRIVILEGE that can be taken away when your don’t use it responsibly. That goes for teen drivers, drunks, senior citizens, and the morons we encounter on the road every single day.