Teenagers of the 21st century live a life on a fast lane that nobody in generations before them has ever experienced. The rapid development of technology as it affects their lives have caused them to become more irresponsible and daring in their daily lives. Having grown up in a world heavily influenced by virtual reality video games, they seem to see driving as nothing but a real-life game set in flesh and blood. Since a teenager is not yet an adult but no longer a child, his brain development cannot be fully considered to be reliable just as yet. They have yet to understand that there is no reset button once a driving mistake is made in real life.
Teenagers tend to emulate the bad driving habits that they see around them, which is seemingly approved in real life through the way movies portray dangerous driving activities like drifting, drag racing, street racing. In reality, driving takes professional skill and countless hours of responsible driving before one can actually develop proper driving habits and skills that can save a life when something goes wrong. The eventual result of these drivings habits is death or decapitation of a body part.
According to a survey undertaken by AAA and Seventeen magazine, which was published by USA Today in July of 2007, approximately 20% of drivers aged 16-17 ended up in fatal accidents from July – August. Seventeen magazine editor Anne Shoket explains this result as the effects of summer vacation:
School is out, and teens aren’t just driving from school to home to work… There are road trips, parties, more social activities. Their parents might loosen upon where and when they can drive for the summer because they just want to get the teens out of their hair for some time.
Consider the following dangerous activities a teenager has while driving. The same article indicated that 58 % drive with more than the car passenger capacity inside, 50 – 51 % text message or make calls while driving, and 11 % get behind the wheel either drunk or after having heavily used drugs.
The results of such actions on the part of the parents are usually devastating for both the parent and the child. Aside from the ruined vehicle, the parents are usually saddled with higher insurance premiums as a result of these accidental collisions. In the event of injury or death, the mental and emotional anguish that parents must deal with at the loss of a child’s physical abilities or, even worse, the loss of the child’s life cannot be accurately measured.
Parents have the ability to prevent such events. They have to acknowledge that they are the childhood role model for the kids and this includes being the indirect driving teacher of the child. It’s a case of “monkey see monkey do,” actually. Therefore, parents must seriously discuss the results of irresponsible driving with the teen, come up with a set of driving rules that must be followed at all times, and if necessary, sign a parent-teen driver agreement contract before allowing the use of the car. Whenever necessary, cancel car use privileges. Being the responsible person in the situation, it is up to the parent to preempt any possible dangerous activities their children may try to do behind the wheel.
Work Cited
“Many Teens Admit Risky Driving Habits“. USA Today. 2007. Web.
“Danger Behind The Wheel“. Road and Travel Magazine. 2008. Web.
“Top 10 Prents Tips: How To Play A Role In Teen Safety“. Geico. 2008. Web.