TEENS ON THE ROAD: HOW TECHNOLOGY, POLICY AND PARENTS INFLUENCE DRIVING SAFETY Traffic crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States. For teens, the stakes are especially high. Written by Abbie Roth
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mericans love cars. Some kids start saving for their first car before they get rid of their training wheels. And teens especially can’t wait for that moment when they have the freedom to hit the open road, or at least drive to school. It’s the subject of songs and movies, and it’s deeply ingrained in popular culture: getting that driver’s license is a ticket to freedom. But each day in the United States, approximately seven teens die as a result of motor vehicle crashes, and an additional 685 are injured.
Among teens ages 16 to 19, automobile-related accidents are the leading cause of death. Distracted driving (primarily due to cellphones) and increased substance use have joined typical teen risk-taking and inexperience as major contributors to motor vehicle crashes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2019, nearly 2,400 teens died and more than 250,000 were treated in emergency departments as a result of motor vehicle crashes. Even with the risks, driving is an important skill for
DISTRACTED DRIVING
PARENT ENGAGEMENT
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RISK TAKING BEHAVIORS
PediatricsNationwide.org | Fall/Winter 2021
INEXPERIENCE
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
