Driving Rules and Tips for Beginners

Getting a driver’s license is an enormous step in a person’s life. This is true regardless of whether the new driver is 18 or older, or if he or she is younger. Once earned, the ability to drive is often seen as a sign of adulthood by many young drivers. A car and the ability to travel without the help of others also symbolizes freedom for many, regardless of their age. A driver’s license is also a serious responsibility and should not be taken lightly. To earn and maintain an excellent driving record, there are many factors that a driver must understand, both before and after obtaining a license. Go to this website that has many interesting articles that a new driver and a more experienced driver should read

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/driving-rules-and-tips-for-beginners /

Minnesota Teen Crash Facts for 2011 (15-19 years)

• 39 teens died in traffic crashes, 3,921 were injured

In 2004 15.5% of all traffic crashes were involved a teen death. In 2011 it is 10.6%

• Teen drivers represent 6.5% of all licensed drivers but are involved in 15% of the fatalities
  Minnesota has seen a drop in teen related deaths and teens being arrested for DWI

  • Contributing factors in teen crashes:
    • Driver inattention/distraction
    • Failure to yield
    • Speed
  • teens were involved in alcohol related crashes-- 41% of teen drivers killed were drinking

  1,903  of those under 21 were arrested for DWI of those

  • • 1154 arrest of 15-19 year olds
    • 748  arrests of 20 year olds

  July was the most dangerous month for teen deaths and the most dangerous time is between 3-6pm
  Minnesota crash information taken from Minnesota Crash Facts 2011
  https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/educational-materials/Documents/CRASH-FACTS-2011.pdf

NATIONAL TEEN CRASH FACTS 2010

A total of 3,115 teenagers ages 13-19 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2010. This is 60% fewer than in 1975 and 10% fewer than in 2009.
About 2 out of 3 teenagers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2010 were males.

• • Since 1975 teenage motor vehicle crash deaths have decreased more among males (66%) than among females (44%)
  • In 2010, August had the highest number of teenage crash deaths of any months.
  • 55% of motor vehicle crash deaths among teenagers occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday
  • Teenage motor vehicle crash deaths in 2010 occurred most frequently between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. (17 percent) and between 9 p.m. and midnight (17 percent)
  • In 2010, 58 percent of deaths among passenger vehicle occupants ages 16-19 were drivers.
  • Fifty-nine percent of teenage passenger deaths in 2010 occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 17 percent occurred when a teenager was driving.
  • In 2010, teenagers accounted for 10 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths. They comprised 11 percent of passenger vehicle (cars, pickups, SUVs, and vans) occupant deaths among all ages, 7 percent of pedestrian deaths, 3 percent of motorcyclist deaths, 10 percent of bicyclist deaths, and 16 percent of all-terrain vehicle rider deaths.
  • Young drivers are less likely than adults to drive after drinking alcohol, but their crash risk is substantially higher when they do. This is especially true at low and moderate alcohol concentrations. The estimated percentage of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17 who had a BAC at or above 0.08% in 2009 was down 14%, down 65% since 1982. Most of the decline took place in the 1980’s. This age group experienced the greatest decline in alcohol involvement, compared with a 39% decline for drivers ages 18-20, a 16% decline for drivers ages 21-30, and a 31% decline for drivers older than 30.
  • Fatally injured female teenage drivers were less likely than male teenage drivers in 2010 to have high BACs. Among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-17, 16 percent of males and 13 percent of females in 2010 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. Among fatally injured drivers ages 18-19, 31 percent of males and 22 percent of females had BACs at or above 0.08 percent.
  • The rate of nighttime fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100 million miles traveled in 2001-02 almost 6 times higher for male drivers ages 16-19 than for male drivers ages 30-59. The corresponding comparison for females yields 3 times the rate.
  • In 2010, belt use among fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers ages 16-19 (44 percent) was higher than among fatally injured drivers ages 20-29 (36 percent) but lower than among drivers 30 and older combined (49 percent

For more information on national teen driving statistics go to

http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality.aspx?topicName=Teenagers




Teens & their parents check out this website for information and statistics and teen driving. Driving is the most dangerous activity you or your teen will most likely ever do. Don’t take it lightly www.partsgeek.com/mmparts/teen_driving_statistics.html


Contributing factors to teen driver crash rates:

Due to a combination of immaturity and inexperience, teens have a higher propensity for risk taking behaviors than do older and experienced drivers. Teen drivers are less likely to buckle up, and more likely to speed or drive too fast for prevailing conditions.

Younger drivers are frequently inexperienced in hazard recognition and often take unnecessary risk due to a combination of poor decision making and an illusion of vulnerability. Younger drivers do not always consider the consequences of their actions.

Recent research in adolescent development supports the contention that younger people are often developmentally less capable of making sound judgments and decisions regarding potentially risky behavior. Areas of the brain involved in rendering judgments and making decisions are not fully developed until around age 25.

National information taken from www.nhtsa.dot.gov

WEB SITES ABOUT TEEN DRIVING

http://teendriving.aaa.com/mn teen driving information from AAA
www.parentingteendrivers.com a non-profit teen safety group
www.minnesotansforsafedriving.com a non-profit Minnesota safety group
http://www.teendriving.com about teen driving written by teens
http://www.tell-my-mom.com gives a sticker for your teens car and has a 40 page book on teaching your teen to drive
http://www.dps.state.mn.us/ots Minnesota state department of traffic safety
http://www.t-wheels.com a large driver training school MSD works with
www.allstateteendrivers.com teen driving information from Allstate Insurance Co.
www.qualityansweringservice.com/resources/deadly-calls-how-answering-your-phone-can-cost-you-your-life this site gives facts about the dangers of cell phone and texting use, Personal stories and resources for parents and teenagers.

http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/DistractedDrivingAmongNewlyLicensedTeenDrivers.pdf