Safe Driving for Teens
Alternate Names : Automobile Safety - Teenage Drivers, Driving and Teenagers, Teens and Safe Driving
Description
Learning to drive is a major rite of passage for teens (and their parents). It's a time of exciting possibilities and achievements. It's also a time of grave risk.
Driving is fatal for almost 50,000 Americans every year. People between 15 and 24 years old (especially males) have the highest rate of auto-related deaths, even though people in this age group may be smart, skilled, and have great reflexes. A collision is the most likely tragedy to kill or cripple a teenager.
In addition, automobile accidents are a leading cause of death in infants and children. (See infant and child car seats.)
Cars have many important safety features -- seatbelts, shoulder straps, headrests, air-bags, padded dashes, safety glass, collapsible steering columns, anti-locking breaks, and a host of other less-recognized improvements.
Regardless, reckless driving still proves a danger to teens.
All new drivers should take a driver's education course. These courses have been proven to reduce accidents, but they are not enough. Teens often feel like serious accidents will not happen to them. Thankfully, smart teens can take steps to tilt the odds in their favor.
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