Teenage Drivers

I see that my opponent forfeited. However I have to post my arguments.DefinitionsTeenage: between 13 and 19 years old Drivers: a person who drives a car, truck, etc. Arguments1. Why do we have lisence? If teenagers drive then why is their license. The license is from 18, but if they start drive when they are teenager, then there might be people who drive when they are 13. Then that means that there is no point of license which means they didn't even learn and start driving.2. Deadly Consequences. The consequences for irresponsible behavior behind the wheel can be devastating. In 2010, crashes caused by teen drivers injured 282,000 youngsters and killed another 2,700, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, adolescents in the drivers seat are three times as likely to be involved in a fatal collision than older drivers. Those at greatest risk for a crash include males, teenagers who have just gotten their license and those who transport other teenage passengers.3. Irresponsible Behavior. Even though your teen may be very responsible, in general 16- to 19-year-olds have some pretty dismal statistics when it comes to driving. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that drivers in this age group, particularly males, are likely to underestimate hazardous conditions, drive too fast and get distracted by their passengers. In addition, they are the least likely to wear a seat belt, and are more likely to crash if they drive after consuming alcohol. 4. Experience Matters. Although factors like alcohol, drugs and distractions like the stereo naturally come to mind, the single biggest reason for both fatal and nonfatal crashes involving teenage drivers is inexperience. In one study, the highest crash rate occurred during the first month after teenagers got their license. That rate, 120 crashes per 10,000 drivers, dropped to 70 crashes within five months. Traditional driver education programs, which offer 30 hours of classroom instruction but only 6 hours of on-the-road training, “are not effective in creating safe drivers and decreasing crash risk,” according to the academy’s review of research. “In fact, some studies show that high school driver education programs encourage early licensure of the youngest, most dangerous drivers, with resulting increased crashes, injuries and deaths.” Of course, alcohol, marijuana and other drugs, including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, are prominent factors in crashes involving teenagers. Though teenagers drink and drive less often than adults, they are more likely to crash when they do drink, especially at low and moderate blood-alcohol levels. Studies have shown that marijuana impairs driving performance, especially when it is combined with alcohol. Legal drugs like antihistamines and sedatives also interfere with driving skills — again, especially when combined with alcohol. A 50-milligram dose of the antihistamine Benadryl has a greater effect on driving performance than a blood-alcohol level of 0.01 percent, one study has shown. One drug that helps to improve driving skills is the stimulant methylphenidate, known by the brand name Ritalin, when taken by teenagers with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The drug decreases the risk of errors caused by inattention. Distractions inside the vehicle contribute to accidents for both teenage and adult drivers. But distractions are a more serious problem for novice drivers because they tend to look away from the road for longer periods and may then drift out of their lane or fail to respond in time to a hazard. The academy noted that “eating, drinking and adjusting the radio or the climate controls each cause more crashes than cellular phone use.” Hands-free cellphones have not reduced the risk significantly, the academy said. Teenagers also tend to be greater risk-takers. They are much less likely than adults to use safety belts, especially when driving with other teenagers. And their use of belts is least likely in the most dangerous of conditions: when driving at night, under the influence of alcohol or with several teenage passengers. In crashes that occurred in 2004, 58 percent of the teenage occupants who were killed were not wearing a seat belt.Sourceshttp://driveithome.org...http://www.nytimes.com...Top%2FNews%2FHealth%2FColumns%2FPersonal%20Health http://everydaylife.globalpost.com...