Raising The Driving Age: Impact On Road Accident Rates

Teen driving laws have been a concern across the nation for a long time. Teenagers have the highest crash rates of all age groups, and road accidents are the leading cause of death for teens. While teens rarely crash while being supervised by adults, their crash risk is highest during the first few months of driving unsupervised. Studies have shown that raising the minimum driving age can help reduce teen fatalities. For example, raising the licensing age from 16 to 17 is associated with a 13% lower fatal crash rate among 15-17-year-olds. Other factors such as speeding, drunk driving, and inexperience also contribute to high crash rates among teens.

Graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws

The learner's permit phase allows driving only while supervised by a fully licensed driver. This phase helps young drivers gain experience in less-risky situations and under direct supervision. The intermediate license allows unsupervised driving but with certain restrictions, such as limits on the number of passengers and driving at night. The minimum time requirements for the learner's permit and intermediate license aim to reduce risk and exposure for young drivers.

Studies have shown that GDL laws are effective in reducing crashes among young drivers. For example, New Jersey's GDL system has eliminated most crashes among 16-year-old drivers and reduced crashes among 17-year-olds by 16%. The most restrictive GDL programs have been associated with a 38% reduction in fatal crashes and a 40% reduction in injury crashes among 16-year-old drivers.

In addition to reducing crashes, GDL laws have been linked to declines in hospitalization rates and healthcare resource utilization for young drivers. GDL laws can also help to reduce drunk driving, which is a significant factor in teen crashes. By raising the minimum licensing age and implementing GDL requirements, states can take important steps to improve teen driver safety and reduce fatalities.

While GDL laws have been successful in improving safety for young drivers, there are still challenges. For example, a study in Indiana found that crashes were higher among drivers licensed under a GDL system that extended nighttime and passenger restrictions to all newly licensed drivers under 21. However, it is important to note that this system also included a six-month learner permit, making it difficult to determine the independent effect of the extended restrictions. More research is needed to optimize GDL laws and improve safety for novice drivers of all ages.

Speeding and distracted driving

Distracted driving is the diversion of attention from activities critical to safe driving. Distracted driving can include texting, talking on a cell phone, using a navigation system, eating, drinking, talking to people in the vehicle, and adjusting the stereo or entertainment system. Distracted driving is one of the top reasons why drivers speed. Teen drivers are more at risk of distracted driving than other age groups, with 39% of teens admitting to texting while driving. Texting while driving takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds; at 55 mph, this is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.

To combat speeding and distracted driving, many states have implemented graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws, which restrict the number of passengers that can ride in a car driven by a teen. This is because passengers can distract an inexperienced teen driver, increasing the likelihood of a crash. GDL laws also include provisions and restrictions, such as requiring novice drivers to demonstrate responsible driving behaviour during each stage of licensing before advancing to the next level. In addition, states have enacted laws banning texting and cell phone use while driving, and the NHTSA has campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.

Drinking and driving

Despite a decline in teen drinking, alcohol remains a significant factor in crashes involving young drivers. In 2022, 31% of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers aged 16-19 had positive BACs. While young drivers are less likely than adults to drive after drinking, their crash risk is much higher when they do. This is particularly true at low and moderate BAC levels and is attributed to their inexperience with drinking, driving, and combining the two. Underage drinking is illegal, and driving under the influence of alcohol or any impairing substance could have deadly consequences. Drunk-driving laws are strictly enforced, and many states have zero-tolerance laws, meaning there can be no trace of alcohol or drugs in the system.

In 2022, 22% of 15- to 18-year-old passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking. Alcohol use by underage drivers leads to a high number of fatal crashes, with alcohol involved in 22% of fatal crashes among 16- to 17-year-olds and 31% of crashes among 18- to 20-year-olds in 2022. Additionally, drugs, both illicit and prescription, can affect a teen's driving ability, so it is crucial to educate young drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving, as well as the risks associated with drug use and driving.

The risk of drinking and driving is further exacerbated by other factors such as speeding, peer passengers, and distracted driving. Speeding is a critical safety issue for teen drivers, contributing to 30% of fatal crashes involving 15- to 18-year-olds in 2022. Peer passengers can also increase the likelihood of a crash, as inexperienced teen drivers should be focused solely on the road. Distracted driving, such as texting or talking on cell phones, is a growing problem that increases crash risk, especially when combined with alcohol impairment.

To reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes, it is essential to address the issue of drinking and driving among teens. Educating young drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving, enforcing drunk-driving laws, and promoting safe driving habits can help prevent tragic and preventable crashes.

Inexperience and risk-taking

Teens tend to overestimate their driving abilities and underestimate the dangers on the road. They are also more likely than older drivers to make critical errors that can lead to serious crashes. For example, they may not recognise dangerous situations and may be more easily distracted by peer passengers. Passengers increase the likelihood of a crash, as an inexperienced teen driver should be focused only on the road.

Speeding is a critical safety issue for teen drivers, and they are more likely than other age groups to speed and drive too closely to the car in front of them. In 2022, 35% of male drivers and 19% of female drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the incident. There is also evidence that teens' speeding behaviour increases over time, possibly as they gain confidence.

Drinking alcohol is another major factor in teen crashes. Even though the minimum legal drinking age in every state is 21, data shows that 22% of 15- to 18-year-old passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2022 had been drinking. Teen drivers have a much higher risk of crashing than older drivers at the same blood alcohol concentration (BAC), even at low and moderate BAC levels. This is thought to be due to their relative inexperience with drinking and driving, and combining the two.

Texting while driving is also a prevalent issue among teen drivers, with 39% admitting to the behaviour in 2019. This form of distracted driving can have deadly consequences.

Night-time driving

For teenagers, the risk of night-time driving is significantly increased. Data shows that in 2022, 45% of fatal crashes among teens aged 13-19 occurred between 9 pm and 6 am. The fatal crash rate at night for teen drivers (aged 16-19) is about three times as high as that of adult drivers per mile driven. Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2022 most frequently occurred from 9 pm to midnight (20%), followed by the time between 6 pm and 9 pm (16%).

There are several reasons why night-time driving is especially dangerous for teenagers. Firstly, it is a time when other road users are more likely to be driving impaired or drowsy. Secondly, visibility is reduced, and there is less time to see and react to road signs, upcoming curves, other vehicles, pedestrians, and so on. Slowing down and being more cautious are crucial when driving at night.

To help mitigate the risks of night-time driving for teenagers, it is recommended that they get plenty of practice driving at night with an adult supervisor before driving at night alone. Optimal Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) policies include a requirement to complete 10 or more hours of supervised driving at night with a learner's permit before getting licensed. This allows parents to coach their teens on how to adjust their driving for night-time conditions and how to respond to unique hazards, such as oncoming vehicles' high beams. Once licensed, it is advisable to initially limit night-time driving to the hours before 9 pm.

In addition to the risks of night-time driving, there are several other factors that contribute to higher accident rates among teenage drivers. Inexperience is a significant factor, with newly licensed drivers having the least experience and the highest crash rate among teens. Teenagers tend to overestimate their driving abilities and underestimate the dangers on the road. Speeding is also a critical safety issue for teen drivers, with 35% of male drivers and 19% of female drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2022 found to be speeding at the time of the incident.

Underage drinking and driving under the influence of impairing substances is another major cause of teen driving accidents. In 2022, alcohol was involved in 22% of fatal crashes among 16-17-year-olds and 31% of crashes among 18-20-year-olds. Drugs, both illicit and prescription, can also affect a teen's driving ability.

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