Research from a new study co-sponsored by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance says that we've got it at least partially wrong concerning young drivers.
Over the past couple years, a veritable onslaught of information has emerged to indicate that the high rate of teen traffic accidents and fatalities owes largely to a single factor or sometimes two factors working in tandem. Specifically, many media stories point to these: speeding or aggressive driving that is coupled in certain instances with a teen driver's oft-reported tendency to be distracted by cell phones, texting and other passengers in his or her vehicle.
Although that is often true enough, there are core reasons beyond those that contribute more centrally to teen deaths and injuries in car accidents, say contributors to the new study. The findings that emerge most clearly from examination of 800 crashes involving teen drivers stress that teens often get into crashes that more experienced drivers avoid because they have not yet assimilated critical driving skills that take time and a requisite amount of hours on the roadways to learn.
The point that researchers make is this: Most teens are intent on driving well. "This study helps dispel the myth that most teen crashes are due to aggressive driving or thrill-seeking," says the lead author of the study.
As to what will enable more teen motorists to literally steer clear of accidents, the experts point to improved "scanning" skills that are often deficient solely because of inexperience behind the wheel. Many teens focus on what is immediately in front of the hood. They need to expand that vision by seeing surroundings at much greater distance in all directions.
Researchers say the skill needs to receive an in-depth focus in both formal driving lessons through school and in parent-teen driving training.
Related Resource: www.gantdaily.com "Study: Teen drivers typically make common critical errors before a crash" April 12, 2011
