Pediatricians believe that more needs to be done to keep teen drivers safe

MONDAY, Sept. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) – After years of decline, fatal car crashes involving teenage drivers have accelerated in the United States, warns a group of American pediatricians.

New research also reveals that teenage drivers are more likely to be involved in a serious or fatal crash than any other age group, notes the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The group updated its 2006 policy statement on teenage driving to focus on new threats faced by inexperienced drivers.

"We all know how easy it is to get distracted while driving, especially in the era of texting and technology," said author of the statement, Dr. Elizabeth Alderman. "Parents can give the example with their own driving habits, regularly using a seatbelt to avoid the use of cell phones or speeding."

The new policy statement followed a review of national accident data for 2014-2016.

"Every state has a form of progressive driver's license regulation, which has helped improve safety by limiting the number of passengers or limiting night driving," said co-author, Dr. Brian Johnston. "There is more that can be done – one measure that could make the difference is that communities are more systematically applying seat belt laws and the use of mobile phones while driving," he said in a statement. Press.

In 2015 alone, nearly 1,900 teenagers died in road crashes, a 9% jump from the previous year. And nearly 200,000 young drivers were injured in car accidents.

Inexperience plays a role in these accidents. The AAP has found that the risk of a car accident or close call is four times higher for teens who have obtained their license within 18 months. Driving too fast, driving with other teenagers in the car, being distracted and driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or drugs are other risks, warned the experts.

Teens who drive their friends are more likely to be victims of an accident, noted the academy.

The driving risks may be even higher in teens with medical problems, such as attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), concussions or sleep apnea. According to the group, these health problems could affect their ability to drive safely.

Physicians can take action to make teens safer while driving. The AAP recommends the following:

• Remind teens to always wear a seatbelt. And inform young people about the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medications.
• Urge parents to go beyond the state's requirements for driver education: to exceed the minimum amount of supervised conduct with your teens and practice in a variety of conditions and situations.
• Encourage yourself to use safe alternative routes to school to reduce driving time.
• Support school start times so teens are well rested.
• Investigate the effectiveness of driver licensing rules to determine if these laws should be expanded to include new drivers aged 18 or 19.

"For many teens, driving is an important rite of passage," Alderman said. "We want to help them navigate this new privilege safely and families can ask their pediatrician to share a conversation with their new driver to set expectations and reduce risk."

The statement was published online on September 24 in Pediatrics.

More information

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide more information on teenage drivers.