Every day in New Mexico, teenagers under the age of 18 are receiving their first driver's license. Many have looked forward to this day for years. It presents itself as an opportunity for independence, an opportunity to be able to get from one place to another on their own, and even an opportunity to take one big step to becoming a responsible adult.
Parents also see benefits in allowing their teenager to drive.
Fewer trips to and from school and activities. Many parents agree, allowing a teenager to drive saves them valuable time. However, parents also have many worries. Across the United States, teenagers are commonly over represented in motor vehicle crashes. As shown by the following table, teenagers lead New Mexico in crash involvements per 1,000 drivers.