Recently, the high rate of death of teenagers in car accidents has become a matter of concern. Research conducted by National Teen Driving Statistics reveals that 16-year-old teenagers are thrice more likely to cause car accidents compared to the average other drivers (Fleming, 2010). Moreover, in 2002, the economic burden as a result of 15 to 18 years old drivers was estimated to be $40.8 billion showing how costly teenage driving is (Iowa, 2010). Lack of parental control, teenage immaturity, and the historical background accidents and deaths caused by teenage drivers are the three main reasons that should make it valid to turn down the issuance of driving license to teenagers below the age of 18 years.
First of all, when teens especially 15 to 16 years of age get driving licenses, their parents tend to lose some control over them. However, this is a critical age that needs parental guidance without which they can indulge in antisocial behaviors like drug abuse and addiction. Moreover, this is a stage where teenagers feel that they need to exercise their freedom and the fact that they lack life experience; they end up in distractive behaviors or activities knowingly or unknowingly. As a consequence, issuing a driving license to such children is not only a threat to their lives but also to other lives who may be in their circle (Fleming, 2010).
Secondly, teenage immaturity is another factor that has led to high rates of road accidents caused by teenage drivers. Teenagers below the age of 18 years are not good drivers because they are easily distracted and can react negatively to some dangers on the road which mature people would evade wisely. In most cases, the adventurous nature of these teenagers has led them to nothing other than more accidents on the road because they tend to speed up and show off. In support of this claims, research carried out by an insurance company called Geico show that many teenage drivers are likely to use their mobile phones while driving something which has recently caused many road accidents.
Finally, the rate of teenage deaths as a result of road accidents is alarming. Research shows that teenagers are prone to accidents. For instance, the American Automobile Association (AAA) conducted a research whose outcome showed that between 1995 and 2004 road accidents caused by teenagers claimed a total of 30,917 lives (Fleming, 2010). Moreover, in 2003 alone, 1.5 million accidents reported involved teenagers (Iowa, 2010). As a result, this is a clear indication that there are increasing numbers of teenage deaths in road accidents.
On the other hand, those in support of the issuance of teenage driving license argue that teenagers are old enough to drive themselves during their personal activities like schooling. Moreover, teenagers are no longer categorized as children and are deemed to be grown to make wise decisions (Fleming, 2010). Furthermore, others argue that teenagers should be given emergency driving license so that they can save a situation when those involved cannot drive. Though helpful, the fact remains that the licenses will be abused. The claims are valid, but when having a deep insight into the statistics, there is an indication that the teenagers are not old enough to be given driving license (Iowa, 2010).
In conclusion, lack of parental control, teenage immaturity, and the high rates of deaths caused by teenage driving are the main factors that cause high rates of deaths of teenagers in road accidents. Despite the fact that some support issuance of driving license to teenagers because they are grownups and deserve emergency driving licenses if not unrestricted driving license, the statistics seem to override this argument. Therefore, issuing of driving license to teenagers should be prohibited until they reach 18 years old.
References
Fleming, S. A., United States., & United States. (2010). Teen driver safety: Additional research could help states strengthen graduated driver licensing systems : report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and its Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, House of Representatives. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office.
Iowa. (2010). New safety laws for teen drivers. Ames, Iowa: The Dept.
