Originally published October 27 2005
Research explores ways to reduce driving risks for teenagers
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Kenneth Beck of the University of Maryland at College Park has published a study in Prevention Science that examines the effect parents can have on the safety of their children's driving.
It may come as no surprise that teenagers with a fresh driver's license are more likely to take risks when driving than more experienced drivers.
But a new study suggests that parents may be able to reduce those risks by talking to teens about the consequences for unsafe driving and discussing parental driving restrictions placed on them.
Researchers found that when teen drivers were in agreement with their parents about when they could drive and what the consequences would be for breaking driving rules, they were less likely to take risks while driving, like speeding or going through a yellow light.
"When there was discord between parents, the teens were more likely to be risky drivers," researcher Kenneth Beck of the University of Maryland at College Park says in a news release.
Researchers say motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among adolescents between the ages of 16 and 20; adolescent crash rates are higher than any other age group.
They add that adolescent crash rates are higher when teens drive on weekends, drive with other teenage passengers, and drive at nighttime.
Both the parent and teenage driver were interviewed about the teen's driving habits and parental driving restrictions.
The researchers wanted to measure risky teen driving by asking teens on how many of the past 30 days they had engaged in a variety of risky driving behaviors.
On average teens committed almost four different risky driving behaviors within their first month of driving.
In addition, the study showed that when parents and teens agreed about driving restrictions and rules, such as not driving after midnight and wearing a seatbelt at all times, and agreed about the consequences for violating those rules -- like losing driving privileges -- the teens were less likely to take risks while driving.
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