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| John Tomlin with his son Gregory |
We’ve all been there…
It is a safe bet to assume that everyone reading this column has either been a teen driver or has been (or is) a parent to one or more. As a parent of three children, one of whom turned 16 in January of this year, I can personally attest to the challenges when teens start driving. Recognizing that parents must have their own sets of rules, I have been thankful for state laws such as Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), which allows teens to progressively gain exposure to complex driving situations…easing them into driving under low-risk conditions over an extended period of time.
The positive effects of GDL have been extensively measured. States with comprehensive GDL laws (five or more GDL components) have seen a 38 percent decrease in fatal crash involvement and a 40 percent reduction in injury crashes. I know for certain that GDL has helped my children avoid what otherwise would have been a serious crash while learning to drive.
With their teen drivers out and alone on the roads, many parents have experienced that sinking feeling when the phone rings and you immediately think the worst: Your child telling you they were in a traffic crash or, more frightening, a police officer advising you of the incident because your child isn’t able to do so. While I am very proud of AAA's leadership in the passage of state GDL laws, I know that there is much more to do.
Here's why: Despite the significant improvements that GDL has delivered, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for U.S. teenagers. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly half of all deaths for 15- to 17-year-olds are the result of car crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that, per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16-19 are involved in fatal crashes at four times the rate of adult drivers. Just one teen driver death is too many, but the 2,739 teen drivers killed in 2008 is cause for continued concern.
I pledge that we will do our part, but I ask you to remember that parental involvement in your teen's driving is the key to a safe start. Toward that end, I urge you to visit AAA.com/Teens, where you will find a number of helpful resources. One of my favorites is the AAA Parent-Teen Driving Agreement—Don’t hand over the keys to your teen until you have both agreed to and signed this important document!—but there are dozens of additional helpful programs and materials available for your use.
Oh, and while you are online, check out the amazing award-winning entries in our Teen Driver Safety Advocates contest; you will be impressed with the creative efforts of these young men and women who are helping us spread the traffic safety message amongst their peers.
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President and CEO, AAA Auto Club South