Ryan+M.

= The Problem = Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens (Teen Driving Statistics). In the Department of Transportation’s first report of vehicle deaths per age group in 1975 almost 9,000 teens died in that year alone from motor vehicle accidents (Triplett). The most recent report shows that 3,490 teens died in 2006 (Teen Driving Statistics). The numbers have greatly dropped over 35 years, but the question is “Why is the number of teen vehicle related deaths so high? ”
 * __ TEEN DRIVING: A Problem? __**

= The Reason = The chance of a teen driver dying in an auto related accident is three times greater than the average driver (Teen Driving Statistics). Why is this?There are many reasons that are causing these high amounts of teen deaths. The Allstate Foundation had a study, in which it was reported that almost sixty percent of teens use their cell phones while driving, around seventy percent of teens said they speed to stay with traffic(Teen Driving Statistics). Teens also have the lowest use of seatbelts and they are likely to drive while intoxicated(Triplett). How can you help yourself/ your teen be a safer driver and prevent yourself/ your teen from becoming another statistic.

= __Ways to be a safer teen driver:__ = __Limit the number of distractions in your vehicle-__ Teen driver death rates have been proven to rise with each additional passenger. Limit the number of passengers in your vehicle and make sure they are not a distraction to your driving. Also, if you must use your cell phone, pull over to the side of the road or into a parking lot. Using your cell phone while driving is ​ very dangerous and increases your risk of having an accident greatly. Another good idea is to turn down your music and crack open a window. Doing these two steps aids you in hearing oncoming emergency vehicles, and in knowing when to slow down and move to the right.
 * Limit the number of distractions in your vehicle
 * Practice before applying for your license
 * Never drive drunk [[image:http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zOhheIvaFOA/SwQWSlP1TCI/AAAAAAAAIUI/qAbK8VRQAXI/s1600/clickit-ticket-logo.jpg align="right"]]
 * Be a defensive driver
 * Always wear your seatbelt
 * Always obey traffic signs and signals

​ __Practice before applying for your license-__ Many states have now enacted more in depth GDL programs. Illinois for example has lengthened their instruction permit phase to nine months and a required 50 hours of driving time, including 10 hours of night driving. These GDL's aren't there just to make it harder for you to get your license. They are there to make it harder for you to lose your life because of inexperienced driving. And if you are a parent reading this be sure to set a good example for your teen drivers.

__ Never drive drunk- __ According to the NHTSA about 30 percent of teen drivers killed in 2006 were intoxicated and 25 percent of them had a BAC of .08 or more(Teen Driving Statistics). Drinking under the age of twenty one is already illegal and dangerous and accidents are the leading cause of death for teens so why make yourself even more likely to be killed or severly injured. Don't drink and drive, or avoid alcohol at all costs. __​__

__Be a defensive driver-__ Defensive driving will help you throughout your life. While on the roadways you must always be alert and prepared for the unexpected. You must always watch for that one driver who is going to blow through that red light or the woman on her cell or the guy shaving who starts to drift over the dotted line into your lane. Even though you're a teen driver there are others whom you must watch for on the roads who are a greater hazard than you. Driving defensively will help you greatly.

__ Always wear your seatbelt- __ Wearing your seatbelt is one of the easiest things you can do to keep yourself safe. You just have to remember to put it on and it can save your life and the lives of others in your vehicle. Your seatbelt restrains you in your seat during a collision and assures you that you do not become a human projectile and harm others in your vehicle even more severly than the collision would.

__ Always obey traffics signs and signals- __ Always stopping at stoplights and stop signs are easy ways to reduce your risk of a collision and injuring others. Always obey traffic signs, they are there to safely direct the flow of traffic. Another thing to always obey is the speed limit, especially on curves. They give the safest maximum speed allowed on the roadway.

= __Conclusion__ = There are many dangers teen drivers must face on and off the roadway. Teens are known to fall for peer pressure. The pressure to drink or do drugs is sometimes overwhelming. But doing these things is going to greatly increase your chance of a car accident. There ways to easily be a safer driver on the road. Always remember the above tips to become a smarter more defensive driver and lower the chances of a collision or mistake that could harm you or others.

= __More Information__ =


 * [|WWW.SAFETEENDRIVING.ORG] - A very informational site aimed to reduce the number of teen driving deaths.
 * [|WWW.DMV.CA.GOV/TEENWEB/MORE_BTN6/TRAFFIC/TRAFFIC.HTM] - The California Department of Motor Vehicles site that includes alot of great information for teen drivers.
 * [|WWW.CDC.GOV/MOTORVEHICLESAFETY/TEEN_DRIVERS/TEENDRIVERS_FACTSHEET.HTML] - The United Stateds Center for Disease Controls site that includes information on teen driving accident statistics and risk factors.
 * [|WWW.MEDICALNEWSTODAY.COM/ARTICLES/165455.PHP] - Information on how parents influence teens' driving.
 * [|WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/PEOPLE/INJJURY/NEWDRIVER/SAVETEENS/SECT1.HTML]- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Site on Teen Driving

= = =Works Cited=

Triplett, W. “Teen Driving”// CQ Researcher: 1 //-24. //CQ Researcher.// Web. 1 Feb. 2010. .  Lane, Laura."Overconfidence, inexperience keys to teens' high accident rates" Bloomington Herald-Times, Ind. //McClatchy - Tribune Business News //. 16 May 2009// eLibrary //. Web. 05 Feb 2010.  "Teen Driving Statistics" //RMIIA - Property and Casualty Insurance Information//. Web. 01 Feb. 2010. .

“Teen Driver” //National Safety Council// . Web. 03 Feb. 2010. .

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