2008 Woodie Awards
Young Drivers Cause Harm on Missouri's Roadways
Kristin Beason: Muleskinner
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: Opinion
Young, inexperienced drivers have been a problem for more than a few years. Students are obtaining their licenses and all safety measurements seem to go by the wayside. Is it actually the teens' faults, or can we do more to save such young lives for horrific accidents in the future?
According the Academic Emergency Medicine Journal, teenage drivers (ages 15-20) account for about 50 percent of fatalities. This is alarming. Why aren't legislators and other public figures making this an important issue? Another report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol reveals that 200 people were killed in vehicle accidents involving teens in 2004.
Instead of sending young drivers to Drivers Education and other driving courses, implemented the graduated drivers' license program (GDL), which is designed to ease young drivers into the driver's seat.
The first step of the program is the instruction permit. This allows the student to drive under the supervision of a parent, or other adult. After turning 16, they get their intermediate drivers license.
This gives them freedom to drive without parental supervision but also restricts the time they can be on the road.
This is a great system, but there is one thing missing: enforcement. When a driver is out past their "curfew," all they have to do is say they are going to a school function, or work. This is an easy way for students to dodge this curfew! Why aren't there more strict consequences and monitoring of this?
This subject is personal to me because of my hometown. In a span of seven years, our school lost eight students in car accidents. It was heartbreaking and scary for everyone. They were all between the ages of 15 and 21.
Two of the victims were siblings killed in separate accidents, almost one year apart. The family and community were crushed. Because of this, I became an advocate for safe teenage driving and the use of seat belts.
The high school has started a yearly assembly in which the parents of the lost teens attend and talk to student about their experience. They also promote a statewide competition called Battle of the Belts, which monitors the use of seatbelts.
If something doesn't change in the law and enforcement of the law, the numbers will keep rising and more families will suffer. This cannot go on.
It is time for law enforcement and those in Jefferson City to wake up and see that this is becoming more serious.
How many more young lives have to be taken before stricter laws come about? I'm tired of waiting.
According the Academic Emergency Medicine Journal, teenage drivers (ages 15-20) account for about 50 percent of fatalities. This is alarming. Why aren't legislators and other public figures making this an important issue? Another report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol reveals that 200 people were killed in vehicle accidents involving teens in 2004.
Instead of sending young drivers to Drivers Education and other driving courses, implemented the graduated drivers' license program (GDL), which is designed to ease young drivers into the driver's seat.
The first step of the program is the instruction permit. This allows the student to drive under the supervision of a parent, or other adult. After turning 16, they get their intermediate drivers license.
This gives them freedom to drive without parental supervision but also restricts the time they can be on the road.
This is a great system, but there is one thing missing: enforcement. When a driver is out past their "curfew," all they have to do is say they are going to a school function, or work. This is an easy way for students to dodge this curfew! Why aren't there more strict consequences and monitoring of this?
This subject is personal to me because of my hometown. In a span of seven years, our school lost eight students in car accidents. It was heartbreaking and scary for everyone. They were all between the ages of 15 and 21.
Two of the victims were siblings killed in separate accidents, almost one year apart. The family and community were crushed. Because of this, I became an advocate for safe teenage driving and the use of seat belts.
The high school has started a yearly assembly in which the parents of the lost teens attend and talk to student about their experience. They also promote a statewide competition called Battle of the Belts, which monitors the use of seatbelts.
If something doesn't change in the law and enforcement of the law, the numbers will keep rising and more families will suffer. This cannot go on.
It is time for law enforcement and those in Jefferson City to wake up and see that this is becoming more serious.
How many more young lives have to be taken before stricter laws come about? I'm tired of waiting.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Concerned Mother
posted 3/21/08 @ 10:02 AM CST
Car accidents do not just happen during the evening hours, and I don't believe that law enforcement trying to enforce a curfew will solve much. Law enforcement needs to go after criminals; not our youth. (Continued…)
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