Teen Drivers as the Majority or All Motor Vehicle Accidents

Introduction

Driving is a right for teenagers, however with this right comes the responsibility to drive safely. Research consistently demonstrates that teen drivers are at a higher risk of having car accidents than every other age group. There are a number of things that contribute to this statistic. This report will look at the prevalence and trends of the health behaviour and will confirm through research that there are some factors that are out of the control of teens with other actions that society can do to reduce the risk and increase the protective factors.

Prevalence and trends of the health behaviours

Australian psychologist, Steve Biddulph, links the high rate of teen car accidents to the fact that their brains are only half developed. He states that the developing brain can “function well while calm, but lacks the ability to make good decisions when overloaded by stimuli. It is likely to revert back to emotional decision making when conditions are not ideal.

It makes sense then that a developing brain may be a contributing factor to more risky behaviours such as speeding and speeding for the thrill of it, following too closely to the vehicle in front, violating traffic rules, not wearing seatbelts, using mobile phones while driving, and driving at night time. Despite research showing that teen drivers are aware of the potential risks of some of the more dangerous driving behaviour, they also believe that the behaviour is low risk. These behaviours result in teen drivers being at highest risk of being involved in a car accident in their first year of driving independently.

An Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) report shows that close to 80 percent of P plate drivers and 55 percent of learner drivers aged 16 and 17 years have engaged in some sort of risky driving. This risky driving behaviour results in teen drivers being involved in serious car accidents often resulting in death. Vassallo (2018) reports that more than one in five drivers aged between 17 and 25 years were killed in a driving related accident in 2016, and one in four drivers were seriously injured.

Car accidents are responsible for over 60 percent of deaths among Australian 17 and 20 year olds. In addition, 40 percent of people who die on Australian roads are under the age of 25 years, and 33 percent of Australian teenagers will have a car crash within the first 12 months of driving.

Risk behaviours of teen drivers

According to Vassallo (2018) research suggests that the area of the brain that controls planning and decision making and managing impulse control is still developing in teenagers, which is likely to be a contributing factor for their risky behaviour. The developing brain, along with their lack of experience contributes to teens underestimating the risks associated with driving, and at the same time overestimating their capacity to deal with the challenges of driving.

The Longitude Study of Australian Children (LSAC) Annual Statistical Report on Risky Driving Among Australian Teens (2018) reports that there are four key risk behaviours that can be observed in teens. These are speeding, driving when tired, driving under the influence of alcohol and / drugs and driving without a seatbelt. Further, Vassallo finds that Australian drivers aged between 19 and 20 years who engage in risky driving are more likely to be male, are more aggressive in their behaviour, are less cooperative, are antisocial, have problems at school and have difficulties in their relationships with their parents.

Interestingly, Vassallo also identifies that for some teens lifestyle choices that might be seen as positive can also contribute to risky driving behaviour related to drowsy driving. She states that for some teen drivers who are managing various demands including working, attending school and participating in extracurricular activities are more likely to drive when tired, and increase the likelihood of having a car accident.

Protective factors to improve teen drivers

The Australian Government’s Department Of Health identifies that there are some protective factors that reduce the likelihood of teen drivers having car accidents. Protective factors include providing safer cars that include ABS brakes for teen drivers, encouraging driving in clear and dry weather conditions, keeping the teen driver alert and focused, and driving on familiar roads.

New technologies are available to assist teens become better drivers. These new technologies include virtual and simulator based training programs that better prepare teen drivers. These simulations provide teens with a good understanding of how to manage a car without the risk of being on the road, provide teen drivers with realistic understanding of the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving whilst tired and driving while speeding. These experiences attempt to positively influence behaviour when teens are on the road.

The ACT Government introduced new rules that place further restrictions on P-Platers, Road Safety Minister Shane Rattenbury introduced new laws in an attempt to reduce fatal car crashes of teen drivers. From 1 January 2020 provisional licence holders in the ACT are only allowed to drive with one passenger between 11pm and 5am unless the passengers are family members or for work. Learner drivers must complete 100 hours of supervised driving including 10 hours at night before they can progress to their P Plates, teen drivers under the age of 25 must spend 12 months on red P Plates with only one passenger allowed during this time. The ACT Government believes that by increasing the time teen drivers spend with more experienced drivers, and restricting how many passengers they are protecting the safety of the road for everyone, and will reduce the number of fatal car accidents for teens.

Societal perceptions 

While it is important for governments to introduce stricter laws and improve the information available to attempt to reduce the fatality of teens on the road, research demonstrates that parents also have a role in influencing the driving behaviour of their teens. Teen drivers who have strong positive parenting role models who provide positive feedback, provide important messages about road safety and demonstrate good driving behaviour reduce risky driving behaviour. Unfortunately, research also shows that teen drivers are strongly influenced by their peers both through witnessing and experiencing risky driving behaviour, but also making decisions about how their peers want them to behave.

The general social perception of teen drivers is that they are irresponsible and partake in risky driving behaviour more often than other drivers. Other drivers believe that teen drivers don’t follow road rules deliberately, which leads to accidents. The perception of teen drivers does appear to be supported by the research, however the research is clear that risky behaviours occur for a range of reasons including the brain is not fully developed, having poor role models and other life experiences.