The Issue:
Cell Phones and Driving
The issue of cell phones and driving affect drivers of all ages. Teens, however, seem to be injured more often and have a higher percentage of teen car crashes that are the results of talking on their cell phone or texting and driving.
Statistics
"In 2009, 11 percent of the people who died in distracted driving crashes were 15 to 19 years old. Out of all the teens who died in crashes in 2009, 18 percent died in crashes that involved distracted driving. Fifteen percent of teen drivers who were involved in fatal crashes were distracted at the time of the crash."
16 year olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age.
Organizations trying to solve this problem
In Fort Myers, Florida two organizations, Stay Alive… Just Drive!, Inc. and Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition are going forces to help reduce the percentage of teen crashes. They are coming together to create a guide to help parents coach their teen to become safe drivers using the proven principals of GDL.
Another Organization working to solve this problem Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Injury Center (CDC) works to prevent teen crashes and other related deaths and injuries They give you steps to help keep your teen safe.
-Make your teen's supervised driving period longer.
-Help your teen develop the skills they need and spend as much time as you can by providing supervised practice driving hours.
Part 2 - Solutions for the Issue
Something else that should be done to help solve or curb the problem. One of my own ideas is to start talking with my friends who drive and get together and start a group at school about driving safely and etc. We don't have anything like this at my school. I' sure that all teachers and administration would agree with having a club and support it. It would be a good thing to have in school since so many teenagers drive themselves to school nowadays.
What can I personally do to make more people aware of the issue? I can personally make people aware of the issue of teen crashes by getting my friends together and letting them know of the dangers. We can make sure that we follow the driving laws and make students aware of the consequences that come when you have a crash. I could also give out tips on how to drive safely.
Websites used
1. http://www.naplesnews.com/blogs/stay-alive-just-drive/2012/mar/13/traffic/
2. http://www.cdc.gov/features/teendrivers/
3. http://www.teendriversource.org/stats/researcher/detail/57
4. http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/newdriver/saveteens/append_c.html
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