Teens Behind the Wheel

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The styles of vehicles may vary, but over the world, teens like to drive. Here are some stats and facts about teen driving the world over.

Ages vary for teens to get a license, or their country's equivalent permission to drive.

• In most Canadian provinces, you must be 16.
• Depending on the license desired, you must be between the ages of 16 to 21 to obtain a license in Romania.
• In Mexico 16 year olds can get a permit but aren't allowed to drive alone until getting their license at 18
• Jamaica and Great Britain allow 17 year olds to drive.
• Most European countries have 18 as the minimum age for driving. Singapore, Costa Rica, and most African countries share this restriction.

Driving Distractions

Drivers younger than age 20 had the highest distracted-driving fatality rate among all age groups, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drivers ages 20 to 29 ranked second. The administration said that 5,870 people died and about 515,000 were injured last year in accidents attributed to distracted driving. Twice as many fatalities, 11,773, were attributed to drunken driving.

The actual number of distracted-driving deaths and injuries may be higher because drivers don't admit to texting. Unlike blood-alcohol tests, there are no tests to prove that someone was texting, and phone records are not clear-cut.

Drinking and Driving

• Teen drinking and driving is a problem around the world. In England, as part of an effort by the Department of Transport to cut deaths from alcohol abuse, schoolchildren strap on "beer goggles"-eyeglasses that have distorted lenses similar to frosted glass-making wearers feel nauseous and disorientated. The goggles demonstrate the effect alcohol can have on a person's ability to perform simple tasks such as walking and, ultimately, driving. On average in the U.K., more than 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured in drink-related accidents every year, with those ages 17 to 24 most at risk.

• According to Australia's government, car accidents are a leading cause of death for teenagers. In 2006-7, one out of four drivers or riders killed or injured in road accidents in Victoria were over the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration.

Video Games and Driving

• According to Australian officials, video games that allow teens to drive actually encourage bad road behavior. New South Wales acting Superintendent Dave Evans said "Video games can have a negative impact on young drivers because it increases their complacency and their indulgence in risk-taking behavior." German researchers also said men tend to take more risks on the road after racing in video games, although it doesn't seem to be a problem with women gamers.

Texting and Driving

• According to statistics released by Allstate insurance company, texting and driving results in car crashes that kill an average of 11 teens each day. It also causes 330,000 distracted driving injuries every year and makes drivers 23 times more likely to have an accident.
• Pew Research published a 2009 study that showed about a third of the students surveyed text while driving. Pew surveyed 800 kids between the ages of 12 and 17, and found 34 percent ages 16 to 17 claim to have texted while driving. Half of all teens (ages 12 to 17) have been in a car while the driver texted. More than half of older teens (52 percent) who use cell phones talk on their phone while driving. And 40 percent of all have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put themselves or others in danger.
• In 49 countries, the use of cell phones while driving has been either partially or completely banned.

Compiled by Jeanette Gardner Littleton

Holiness Today, March/April 2010

 

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