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January 26, 2010
Keerthika Ramakrishnan
Teenagers have always had a high rate of car accidents. The government has passed many regulations to ensure that teenagers will be safe when driving. Regardless of these rules, 3,500 teens were killed and more than 350,000 teens were rushed to the emergency room after car accidents in 2008 according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What makes teenagers so accident-prone? Speeding, drinking, texting, distractions from passengers and not wearing seat belts are some of the main causes of teenage accidents. It is the driver’s responsibility to pay attention to the road and to abide by traffic rules regardless of distractions.
Citizens have to be over 21 to drink in California, but most car accidents occur when underage students are driving under the influence says the DMV. It doesn’t take a lot of intelligence to get alcohol from an older person, but for some reason it always takes a lot of thought to understand that driving and drinking don’t go together. In addition to driving under the influence a high percentage of teenage drivers do not wear a seat belt, which can cause an accident to be fatal.
After getting their license, teenagers have to wait up to a year or until they are 18 to drive passengers that are younger than 20 years old. After they have waited, many new drivers take their friends out to celebrate. Usually the music is pumped up and passengers urge the driver to speed up. This distraction can lead to an out-of-control car.
As if texting in class behind teachers isn’t enough, students abuse their cell phones while driving. Even though texting and talking on the phone while driving is forbidden by law, you can always find some student breaking this rule all the time.
“We were following all the rules, but the person in front stopped short and Kristen [Valentine, senior] couldn’t stop her car in time,” senior Taylor Harmon said.
She was in Valentine’s car during the accident. Regardless of how careful they were, it was hard to press the brakes before the rear-ending took place. Even careful drivers can get into accidents.
The DMV gives teenagers the right to start driving once they are 15 and a half. Parents put the trust they have on you into letting you drive. This is their way of giving you freedom and independence. In return for their gratitude and appreciation, many teens end up abusing the freedom. Some parents may speed or talk on their phones themselves, but if your parent can’t be a role model for you then be a role model for them.
During health class, students learn that drunk driving and other bad habits can have disastrous effects. Common sense tells you that using your phone while driving or showing off your new skills can have dangerous consequences.
If teenagers do their part to follow the rules they might be able to minimize the rate of teen motor-vehicle accidents.
