CNN/AP: Report: Teen drivers pose broad risk

[DeepModem Mom]

Report: Teen drivers pose broad risk
Pedestrians, occupants of other cars frequently victims
Wednesday, January 18, 2006


WASHINGTON (AP) -- About one-third of the people killed in automobile crashes involving the nation's youngest drivers were pedestrians or occupants of other vehicles, according to a report released Wednesday.

An analysis of federal crash statistics by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that nearly 31,000 people were killed in crashes involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 17 between 1995 and 2004.

The foundation said it was surprised to learn that one-third of those deaths involved pedestrians and people in other vehicles....

***

Safety groups said the statistics highlight the need for states to strengthen laws involving graduated licensing programs, which place restrictions upon beginning drivers and outline training programs.

"Highway safety programs to date have largely focused on the effects of these crashes on the teen drivers themselves, but this analysis shows that programs need to focus on the impact on others as well," said Lt. Col. Jim Champagne, chairman of the Governors Highway Safety Association....


http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/18/teen.drivers.ap/index.html

[Kellanved]

1. huh?

What is that piece of statistics trying to say?
I read it as: "One third of the people killed by teen drivers were neither the teen driver him/herself, nor a passenger in the teen driver's car."

How does that compare to older drivers? What is the point?

The study does not seem to establish any metric on how teen drivers are worse.

[superconnected]

2. I was looking for a stastic to compare them to over all drivers

too when I read it.

You'd think the editor would catch it, when the writer fails to provide important info the readers will naturally look for.

[Jim__]

3. Right! It looks like they've told about us half of the story. - n/t

[onehandle]

4. When do we start bombing? Start "The War on Teen Drivers". nt

[slampoet]

5. They always report "Teen Drivers"

Well it isn't "Teens Drivers" It is ALL NEW DRIVERS!!

Here in Rhode Island they don't teach driver's ed in the schools and private lessons are expensive so it is common to get your first liscence at age 21-28. As a result we STILL have the worst drivers in the USA (except for maybe boston, houston and miami). These bad drivers aren't made into good drivers by making them wait until adulthood.

The fact is the only thing that prevents accidents is experience and driver's education courses.

[KT2000]

6. I believe it

It scares the hell out of me to look in the rear view mirror and see a vehicle with a teen driver - especially the boys. If there are several boys in the car, often the driver will pass feeling pressure that his friends will think he is driving like a wimp if he does not pass everyone in front of him.

Maybe we have a bad drivers ed program because I have seen teen drivers force on coming traffic off the road too many times for it to be one bad apple.