Emerging Traffic Safety Issues: Adolescent Drivers

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Emerging Traffic Safety Issues Adolescent
Drivers
C. Raymond Bingham University of
Michigan Transportation Research Institute Social
and Behavioral Analysis Division
rbingham_at_umich.edu
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Background
Motor vehicle crash is the leading cause of death
and injury among teens. Rates. Changes. How
does MI stacks up?
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Rates Compared to All Drivers
In 2002, young drivers ages 16-20
represented 6.6 of all drivers, 16 of all
the drivers involved in police-reported crashes,
and. 14 of all the drivers involved in fatal
crashes.
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Changes in Past Decade
DOT HS 809 619
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Comparison of Men and Women
DOT HS 809 619
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Comparison to Michigan

• Michigan over last decade
• Numbers of teen drivers increased 5.8

• Crashes decreased 9.2
• (2002 Michigan Traffic Crash Facts).

• Differences between men and women have narrowed.

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Todays Topics
1. What makes adolescents different?
2. Why do teens drive the way they do?
3. Should we all just get off the road, or can
teens be safe drivers?
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What Makes Adolescents Different?

• Brain Development
• Teenagers brains are different.

• Maturation continues.

• Overproduction of gray matter.

• Brain undergoes pruning.

• Myelination occurs.

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What Makes Adolescents Different?

• Brain Development
• Process information differently
• (Yurgelun-Todd, 2002).

• Frontal lobes less active.

• Amygdala more active.

• Affects insight, reasoning power, self-control,
  judgment, emotions, and organization.

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What Makes Adolescents Different?

• Brain Development
• Activity influences
• brain development
• (Giedd et al., 1999 http//www.human.cornell.edu
  /actforyouth/pdf/may02factsheetadolbraindev.pdf).

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What Makes Adolescents Different?

• Other Developmental Factors
• Reproductive organs mature.

• Rapid hormonal changes.

• Sexual attraction increases.

• Peers gain in importance.

• Individual identity development.

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Why Do Teens Drive Like That?
Inexperience
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Why Do Teens Drive Like That?
Distractibility
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Why Do Teens Drive Like That?
Poor Judgment
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Why Do Teens Drive Like That?
Acquiring Driving Skills
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Can Teens Be Safe Drivers?
Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) 1. Reduce risk
in learning phase
2. Extend supervised practice
3. Increase complexity gradually
4. Harsh penalties for deliberate risk-taking.
These objectives match needs of the developing
adolescent brain.
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Can Teens Be Safe Drivers?
GDL Effectiveness
1- Clear reduction in offenses/crashes during
Level 1.
2- Less clear whether reduction is maintained
beyond Level 1.
3- UMTRI currently researching outcomes of GDL in
Level 2.
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Can Teens Be Safe Drivers?
GDL Augmentations
1- Increase privileges in smaller steps.
2- Advancement contingent on individual driving
performance.
3- Impose more restrictions, such as restrictions
on passengers.
4- Stronger penalties, such as demotion.
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Can Teens Be Safe Drivers?

• Check Points
• Bruce Simmons-Morton
• Intervention to help parents with teen drivers.
• Has been implemented in Connecticut and Maryland.
• UMTRI will be testing it in Michigan.

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Can Teens Be Safe Drivers?

• Teen Safety Belt Use
• Teens poorest users of safety belts.
• Need a better understanding of the reasons for
  non-use by teens.
• Special initiatives targeting teens.
• Programs that are tailored to reach teens.

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Conclusion

• Adolescents are different.
• Have different needs.
• Programs that address teens at their
  developmental level are more likely to succeed.
• Teens should include their parents in the process
  of learning to drive.