While teens count down the days they can take their driver’s test to obtain a driver’s license, their parents, as well as many other drivers throughout the state of California, brace themselves for the presence of another young person behind the wheel, on the roads. Historically, there has been good cause for this sentiment as teen drivers are a group often considered to be at high risk for being involved in a crash. Recent statistics indicate however that teen driving in the state of California is actually improving. This news comes in conjunction with news that nationwide, teens are doing worse.
The Governors Highway Safety Association recently released information on the number of 16 and 17-year-old drivers who were involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents over the course of the first six months of 2012. Compared to the same time period the previous year, overall the number of deaths had increased by 19 percent. In the state of California however, the number of deaths was down by two, to a total of four during that time period.
Despite the good news for the state of California, teen drivers are of course still involved in car accidents. While there are a multitude of reasons why such incidents occur, behaviors constituting distracted driving are often to blame. These behaviors include not only talking or texting on one’s phone, but interacting with others in the vehicle. In short, this behavior is characterized by anything that might cause a driver to take his or her eyes and concentration from the road.
To help combat the issue various groups throughout the state have undertaken programs addressing the matter. Most would likely agree that such programs would be of use to all drivers, regardless of their age.
Source: Daily Press, “California teen-driver deaths down,” Shea Johnson, March 3, 2013
