Teens Postpone Getting a License– What are the Effects on Safety?
The Washington Post has a report on how fewer teens are choosing to rush to get their driving licenses as soon as they turn 16. More and more teenagers are choosing to wait to get their driving license, or sign up for a driver’s education program. The report says there are several reasons why teens are choosing to have their parents continue to drive them around or hitching a ride with their friends instead of getting their own licenses. For one, the digital age has made it less important for teenagers to be mobile in order to have a social life. The ease of chatting via instant messages and the availability of chatting and conferencing abilities through Skype has lessened the need for teenagers to have to drive to their friends’ houses or social hangouts to keep in touch while out of school. Facebook and MySpace ensure that conversations can be carried on even outside the classroom. As a result, teenagers just don’t feel that urgency to get a license as before. Besides, many teens have their days packed not just with school activities, but also social networking and other out of school activities, and can barely find time to take driving classes. For parents, the reaction to such delayed independence by their teenage children has been somewhat mixed. While most parents are happy their teenagers are avoiding the number one risk of death for teenagers – auto accidents – others are concerned that this delay in getting a license delays the path to adulthood. California auto accident lawyers are interested in the kind of safety issues thrown up by delayed driving. Safety experts warn that delaying driving may actually increase the risk of accidents in teenagers who have no choice but to drive when they reach college, or leave home and find a job. Learning to drive when you are in high school allows teen motorists to slowly ease into adult driving, experts believe. They learn about traffic safety rules, and how to handle peer passenger distractions and other basics of driving before they are required to drive under an adult license. Delaying the process makes it harder for teenagers when they are suddenly faced with no choice, but to drive. Auto accidents are the number one cause of death for teen motorists. Teen drivers between the age of 15 and 20 are at the highest risk for fatal accidents. Teenagers are at a higher risk of accidents because of several factors. Age and inexperience Recklessness Peer pressure Risk of cell phone use and text messaging while driving Risks from intoxicated driving Driving during the teens can help these motorists develop safe driving practices, creating well rounded adult drivers. The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of auto accidents . Please visit our website at trlglaw.com . If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us . The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.
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Teens Postpone Getting a License– What are the Effects on Safety?