Watch out for teen drivers...

[genec]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070125/ap_on_re_us/teen_driving_study

Study: Distractions fuel teens' crashes


But teens reported a host of other in-car distractions that researchers say help make traffic accidents the No. 1 killer of U.S. teens, with a fatality rate four times higher than drivers aged 25-69, based on miles driven. About 5,600 teens died in traffic accidents in 2005, and about 7,500 were driving cars involved in fatal accidents.

Researchers found that one teenage passenger with a teen driver doubles the risk of a fatal crash, while the risk is five times higher when two or more teens ride along. Most states have laws restricting passengers when teens drive, but 15 states do not.

Nearly 90 percent of teens reported seeing peers drive while talking on cell phones and more than half spotted drivers using hand-held games, listening devices or sending text messages.

[Shiznaz]

And here I was not watching out for teen drivers... silly me!

[genec]

And here I was not watching out for teen drivers... silly me!

Yeah, OK, yet another reason to watch for Teen drivers.

What I can't help but wonder is why the study focused on only teens.

[jfmckenna]

That is pretty scary. When I was a teen there were no cell phones but we also had mustangs and chevelles. Going up to 130MPH was not unheard of :D

[Wulfheir]

It sounds like teen passengers are more dangerous than teen drivers.

[GaryA]

Must have been a slow news day for some to write that up, kinda a no brainer.

[Brian Sorrell]

Overheard from a co-worker's phone call to her 16-year-old daughter, who was operating a motor vehicle at the time:

"Don't play with the radio while you're on the cell phone."

[divergence]

Overheard from a co-worker's phone call to her 16-year-old daughter, who was operating a motor vehicle at the time:

"Don't play with the radio while you're on the cell phone."
Damn straight. That could lead to spilling your coffee all over the newspaper you're reading, which totally shoots your concentration on doing your makeup.

[sgtsmile]

Yeah, OK, yet another reason to watch for Teen drivers.

What I can't help but wonder is why the study focused on only teens.

Cause it was written and conducted by "safe" adult drivers.... kinda like the lady in her 50s yesterday who just about ran me over after she blew a stop sign while I was out on my run . . .

Besides which, "teens" are supposed to be unsafe and reckless, right?

In reality, it is the new driver that is a problem, regardless of age. It is just that most of the new drivers happen to be teens.

[Helmet Head]

Trying to ascertain the age of a driver and then treating him accordingly doesn't make sense to me.
The fact that a teen driver is more likely to be distracted, and is more likely to overlook your presence is irrelevant to the fact that if you need a particular driver's attention, you should make sure you have it before you are in a situation where your safety depends on his or her attention. That's what you should do whether the driver is a teen or not.

In other words:

If the driver is NOT a teen, you still need to verify you have his attention before you put yourself in a situation where your safety depends on his or her attention.
If the driver IS a teen, it's still okay to put yourself in a situation where your safety depends on his or her attention as long as you have verified that they are aware of your presence.


The logic here is the same as in the texting thread, and with respect to cell phone users, and all distracted drivers.
The generalities don't mean squat when you're dealing with one particular driver whose attention you need to aquire.

What matters is whether your safety is about to depend on their attention, and, if it does, whether you have verified that you have their attention, not whether they're on the phone or are a teen or just about anything else.

[Shiznaz]

Its just a nice statistic to know you're likely going to be creamed by a teeny bopper. Because you probably won't know what hit you!

[Tom Stormcrowe]

That is pretty scary. When I was a teen there were no cell phones but we also had mustangs and chevelles. Going up to 130MPH was not unheard of :D
Only 130? I lost my license till I was 21 when I was 16.......173 in a 55 on I69 north of Fort Wayne! Not one of the smarter things I ever did, granted.......

[Helmet Head]

Only 130? I lost my license till I was 21 when I was 16.......173 in a 55 on I69 north of Fort Wayne! Not one of the smarter things I ever did, granted.......

173 mph? What year? Driving what?

[CommuterRun]

The last time I got any grief was a "Get off the road."

By, get this, a teen passenger. Didn't even look old enough to have a DL. WTF does he know about driving or traffic law?:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

[genec]

The last time I got any grief was a "Get off the road."

By, get this, a teen passenger. Didn't even look old enough to have a DL. WTF does he know about driving or traffic law?:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

Apparently not nearly enough. Those kind are the ones that need a stern adult giving them a good strong lecture.

[joejack951]

I find focussing on one set of drivers amusing. Everyone has their own top pick:

Teens: too young, inexperienced and distracted
20-30somethings: bunch of spoiled college grads driving graduation gift SUVs and sports cars thinking they own the road
middle aged: distracted by all the kids in the car, yuppies driving Benz's and Beemers
seniors: can't see the road, don't know the traffic laws any more, plowing through everything in their way

In other words, we should all be dead by now.

[chipcom]

Only 130? I lost my license till I was 21 when I was 16.......173 in a 55 on I69 north of Fort Wayne! Not one of the smarter things I ever did, granted.......

WTF did you do Tom, steal an Indy car from the Brickyard? :eek: