Introduction: Licensed teen drivers are more likely to be involved in a serious crash than adults that are somewhat older or middle aged drivers. Research shows that more than 40% of deadly car crashes that occurs between the ages of 16 and 17 are a result of the driver having one or more fellow teenage passengers, most frequently the other passenger or passengers were the same gender and around the same age as the driver. Most of the car crashes were due to; alcohol use, late night driving or the non-use of a seat-belt and simple inexperience. The solution to these problems would be stepping up the enforcement of existing laws, as well educating parents’ and young drivers on tips that could reduce the occurrence these crashes. These tips
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Driver inexperience and immaturity affect all new teen drivers. Young teen drivers do not have their prefrontal cortex developed, therefore their good decision making process isn’t functioning up to par with their adult counterparts. “fMRI evidence reveals that adolescent recruit the prefrontal cortex’s network of connections with other brain area less effectively than adults do” (Berk 292). The lack of sleep can have a very high impact of the level of safe driving performance done by a teen driver. Adolescence need at least 9 hours of sleep a day; however teenagers are going to sleep later than they should. That aspect can affect the critical brain function of the teen. “Sleep-deprived adolescents display declines in executive functions, performing especially poorly on cognitive tasks” (Berk …show more content…
Many crashes are a result of lack of driving experience and the increased risk taking behaviors of adolescent drivers; therefore laws have been put in state to address the risks associated with inexperience by limiting the number of teen passengers in the vehicle for a new driver. In adolescence friendships mean everything, so does impressing your friends; this can lead to dangerous driving behaviors. Before allowing a new driver behind the wheel parents should teach their child about safe driving skills, and have sensible
Driver inexperience and immaturity affect all new teen drivers. Young teen drivers do not have their prefrontal cortex developed, therefore their good decision making process isn’t functioning up to par with their adult counterparts. “fMRI evidence reveals that adolescent recruit the prefrontal cortex’s network of connections with other brain area less effectively than adults do” (Berk 292). The lack of sleep can have a very high impact of the level of safe driving performance done by a teen driver. Adolescence need at least 9 hours of sleep a day; however teenagers are going to sleep later than they should. That aspect can affect the critical brain function of the teen. “Sleep-deprived adolescents display declines in executive functions, performing especially poorly on cognitive tasks” (Berk …show more content…
Many crashes are a result of lack of driving experience and the increased risk taking behaviors of adolescent drivers; therefore laws have been put in state to address the risks associated with inexperience by limiting the number of teen passengers in the vehicle for a new driver. In adolescence friendships mean everything, so does impressing your friends; this can lead to dangerous driving behaviors. Before allowing a new driver behind the wheel parents should teach their child about safe driving skills, and have sensible