“If [there is a time] to have an early, untimely death… the most dangerous years of [an individual’s] life are between 16 and 17, and the reason for that is driving” (Feiler 1). At 16 and 17, many teens begin to drive or learn how to drive, but their own inexperience can pose serious dangers to themselves and other drivers; driving regulations are in place for this reason, although they can be a nuisance to the teen drivers. To avoid these pesky regulations, many people chose to wait until they are of an age where the restrictions no longer apply to them. To protect them and other drivers, teen driving regulations are necessary however they are not as effective as possible because only teens are affected by them and all other first time drivers
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The regulations controlling what times teen drivers can not drive between protect them as “[safety experts have found that] driving late at night is more dangerous than during the day”(Feiler 4). Fatigue is most well known distraction but it is not the only danger of night driving; at night an individual can face difficulty recognizing color, lack of depth of perception, and limited peripheral vision, factors a teen might forget to consider before driving at this time. Dr. Morris, a researcher at HumanFIRST Laboratory at the University of Minnesota stated, “[a]dding one nonfamily passenger to a teen’s car increases the rate of crash by 49 percent” (Feiler 2). Driving with other teens, such as friends, adds a multitude of distractions that could and should be avoided. When driving with friends, the drivers are encouraged to push the legal limits and personal capabilities that could lead to them getting into an unfortunate predicament. Along with limiting the dangerous distractions, “[t]he restrictions are there to ensure [teens] aren’t able to present a risk to [themselves, their] passengers and others on the road [and at the same time, provide] practice hours [intended] to give… [them a] real feel of various maneuvers and rules [they] will encounter” (“CA New Drivers” 3). The restrictions can’t limit the …show more content…
Dr. Scott Masten of Cali Department of Motor Vehicles found that although 16 year old crash rates were decreasing, “[if looking at 18 and 17 year olds as well] it looks like [regulations are] offsetting those saved crashes [;i]n fact 75 percent of fatal crashes…[that were thought to have been avoided] occurred two years later” (O'Connor 1). In California, a teenager will not have to take drivers ed if they are 17 ½ and at 18 they can skip all restrictions and just take the test, although they are avoiding the limitation they still face their own inexperience. Crash rates of 16 year olds have decreased because they have been allowed time to gain their experience but the ones who waited until they no longer had to worry about the restrictions did not. Masten confirms that “[he suspects] that the reason for the increase in deadly crashes among 18 year-old is… [teenagers] are simply waiting to get their license until they turn 18, and skip the restrictions altogether” (O'Connor 1). It may be easier to just wait out the restrictions but by waiting it out they have lost valuable practice time, and as a result these individuals are putting their life and others on the line. The regulations are there to protect the teen drivers and others but they are useless when many people chose to go around them. In
The regulations controlling what times teen drivers can not drive between protect them as “[safety experts have found that] driving late at night is more dangerous than during the day”(Feiler 4). Fatigue is most well known distraction but it is not the only danger of night driving; at night an individual can face difficulty recognizing color, lack of depth of perception, and limited peripheral vision, factors a teen might forget to consider before driving at this time. Dr. Morris, a researcher at HumanFIRST Laboratory at the University of Minnesota stated, “[a]dding one nonfamily passenger to a teen’s car increases the rate of crash by 49 percent” (Feiler 2). Driving with other teens, such as friends, adds a multitude of distractions that could and should be avoided. When driving with friends, the drivers are encouraged to push the legal limits and personal capabilities that could lead to them getting into an unfortunate predicament. Along with limiting the dangerous distractions, “[t]he restrictions are there to ensure [teens] aren’t able to present a risk to [themselves, their] passengers and others on the road [and at the same time, provide] practice hours [intended] to give… [them a] real feel of various maneuvers and rules [they] will encounter” (“CA New Drivers” 3). The restrictions can’t limit the …show more content…
Dr. Scott Masten of Cali Department of Motor Vehicles found that although 16 year old crash rates were decreasing, “[if looking at 18 and 17 year olds as well] it looks like [regulations are] offsetting those saved crashes [;i]n fact 75 percent of fatal crashes…[that were thought to have been avoided] occurred two years later” (O'Connor 1). In California, a teenager will not have to take drivers ed if they are 17 ½ and at 18 they can skip all restrictions and just take the test, although they are avoiding the limitation they still face their own inexperience. Crash rates of 16 year olds have decreased because they have been allowed time to gain their experience but the ones who waited until they no longer had to worry about the restrictions did not. Masten confirms that “[he suspects] that the reason for the increase in deadly crashes among 18 year-old is… [teenagers] are simply waiting to get their license until they turn 18, and skip the restrictions altogether” (O'Connor 1). It may be easier to just wait out the restrictions but by waiting it out they have lost valuable practice time, and as a result these individuals are putting their life and others on the line. The regulations are there to protect the teen drivers and others but they are useless when many people chose to go around them. In