More and more public-school driver training programs fall to budget cuts each year. However, statistics tell us that the need for driver training for teenagers has never been greater. Consider the following:
In 2003, teenage drivers accounted for 10 percent of the United States population, but comprised 13 percent of motor-vehicle crash fatalities. A total of 5,691 teenagers died that year. That same year, 41 percent of all deaths for teens ages 16 and 17 stemmed from motor vehicle collisions, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That's nearly half of all deaths in that age group! And teenage boys are at greater risk of dying in a motor vehicle crash than girls. In 2003, 66 percent of the teen deaths were males.
Naturally, teenagers like to bring lots of friends along for the ride. That divides their attention and increases the chances of a fatal collision. In fact, the larger the group in a car, the greater the odds for being involved in a fatal crash. If a teenager is driving with a friend in the car, he or she is 1.4 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than if driving alone. Add a second passenger and the risk increases again. By the time there are three passengers in the car, they are 2.8 times more like to be involved in a traffic fatality.
Because of statistics like these and more, AAA is launching "Licensed to Learn," the most comprehensive program nationwide to curb novice driver crashes. With this program, AAA hopes to raise awareness of the importance of novice driver safety and incorporate the issue into the national public health agenda. The "Licensed to Learn" initiative would mandate more behind-the-wheel driving experience, provide guidelines for selecting driver education courses and increase parental involvement in teen driver training. It also would establish a graduated licensing system for novice drivers in all 50 states and eliminate deficiencies in the licensing process that allow new drivers to become fully licensed without ensuring they are ready to drive.
Welcoming Your New Driver
Brochure outlines AAA tips for parents that will help safeguard teens and give a little peace of mind when turning over the keys to a teen driver.
Choosing A Driving School
Driver education courses are designed to teach new drivers the fundamental skills and basic knowledge required to drive a motor vehicle. Your search for a quality school may be more successful if you know what to look for in facilities, instructors, structure and lesson plans. Tips in the following brochure may make it easier for you to select the best driver training school for you.
Teen Drivers: Everyone is at Risk
Analysis that shows that between 1998 and 2007 crashes involving 15- to 17- year-old drivers claimed the lives of 28,138 people, of which 10,388 (36.9%) were those drivers themself. However, the majority of fatalities in these crashes were people other than those drivers, and included 8,829 of their passengers, 6,858 occupants of vehicles operated by drivers 18 years of age or older, and 2,063 nonmotorists.
Teens and Parents Find What You Need on DMV Web Sites
AAA urges states to share division of motor vehicle best practices for helping parents understand the teen crash problem and their role in assisting teens in becoming safer drivers.
Parent Guidelines
AAA's Parent-to-Parent Teen Driving Discussion Guide to help you, your teens, their friends and their parents develop rules that will help you all get through this exciting process more safely and with a bit less anxiety.
Young Drivers
Provided by NHTSA's National Center for Statisics and Analysis, this document provides statistical information on young drivers and motor vehicle crashes.
More and more public-school driver training programs fall to budget cuts each year. However, statistics tell us that the need for driver training for teenagers has never been greater. Consider the following:
