Switched-On Magazine

Did you know that motor vehicle accidents are the
leading cause of death among 15-20 year olds?
According to the US Department of Transportation, not
only is that true, the risk of motor vehicle accidents
for 16-19 year olds is higher then any other age
group. It's hard to believe that something so
preventable can be so devastating.

Getting your license for the first time can be very
thrilling. Even riding with a friend and cruising
around can make you feel very independent. A new
world opens up, you no longer have to ask your parents
for rides, you become in control. But with that
control comes a lot more responsibility then you may
think.

So why, amongst all drivers from 16 to 90 years old,
are teenagers getting in the highest amount of
accidents. There are many factors that play into
causing an accident. Some things that may cause
reckless driving are, playing loud music, eating while
driving, talking on the phone, being distracted by
friends or just not paying attention. These are
things that every driver probably has experienced
regardless of age. Though being a teenager, you want
to have it all, do it all, and sometimes that could
mean loose it all. Not only are drivers the ones
being killed in teenage related accidents, passengers,
are as well.

When you are not the one driving a car, it can be a
lot more fun, you can chat with the other people in
the car, you can sing really loud, and eat with out
worrying about driving off the road. But just because
you're not the one behind the wheel doesn't mean you are
going to be safe. You may find yourself riding in a
car with a friend who likes to drive fast, this may
seem fun at first, but after a while you get nervous
because they keep increasing their speed. You may feel
like if you say something then they might think you
are being un-cool, but on the other hand if you don't
say anything then it could cost you your life. Many
times teens find themselves in this position when
they go to a party. The person who is giving them a
ride ends up drinking and then giving them a ride
home. Just because you rode to the party with that
person doesn't mean you need to ride back. Many lives
would be saved every year if teens would speak up.
Most likely if you called your parents at midnight and
told them you needed a ride because the person that
drove you is too intoxicated to give you one, they
would probably respect you more for calling and not
putting yourself in a dangerous position.

All the negative statistics about teen driving does
not mean that you cannot have an enjoyable ride. You
just need to know how to be smart about it. Use
common sense, avoid distractions and overall mind the
rules of the road so that your life doesn't come to an
abrupt stop.