Maybe it’s the stretches of desert alongside the highway, maybe it’s cacti blossoming with pink flowers, or maybe it’s unbearable heat—but something is causing an increase in the number of teen driver fatalities in Arizona.
The number of 16 and 17 year old drivers who are killed in accidents is up for the first time in eight years. The number of teen driving fatalities has increased across the country, and Arizona is actually one of 23 states that are seeing annual increases in the number of teen driving fatalities.
There are plenty of things to blame for the high numbers: cell phone usage, texting, or other distractions while driving. However, there are some that believe education is the real reason behind high rates of fatalities. Some believe teens don’t receive enough training before they’re able to get behind the wheel.
In order for an Arizona teen to get a license, they only need 30 hours of supervised instruction and driving behind the wheel. Although 30 hours is a commonly required amount in many states, it’s still relatively low. That number seems especially low when compared to the requirements of states like Maine, where a stricter, graduated licensing program is used and 65 hours are required for teens. There are three different ‘levels’ a teen must go through before getting licensed in Maine, versus the shortened, graduated program of Arizona.
According to the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles website, teens must drive with an approved third party or under the guidance of the parent or guardian who signed their license permit application. A written exam is required after driving hours have been completed.
A study from John Hopkins University found states with tougher requirements have a 20% decrease in the number of teen driver fatalities. This of course suggests a very large correlation between teen driver education and accidents.
According to MyFoxPhoenix.com, Maria Wojtczak, a representative from a driver education group, Driving MBA, the lack of training is the exact reason to blame.
“There is no training in a state like Arizona… so all the impetus is on the parents to make sure their children are well prepared to be out on these roadways,” Wojtczak told Fox.
Wojtczak stated that doing just the ‘bare minimum’ for driver’s education is not enough for new drivers. She says it’s not a matter of age, it’s a matter of being educated and having the proper driving skills. She suggests that parents practice driving with their children a minimum of 100 hours in addition to regular driver’s education programs.
According to Driving MBA, half of all new drivers, regardless of age, are going to be involved in a car accident in their first year of driving. They predict these accidents will range in causes, whether it be distracted driving that causes a fatality or a minor one “scraping paint” as they back out of their garage.
If it’s a matter of being prepared and educated, there’s a great number of other alternatives in addition to a state’s driver’s education program. Insurance companies have even created programs to further educate teen drivers in addition to state requirements. Allstate Insurance and Nationwide Insurance have developed detailed driver education programs targeting teens, which include additional supervised hours and education.
The parents of the drivers play an active role in these programs, and the programs are free and available to anyone who wishes to participate, regardless of whether they’re a company policyholder or not. If they are a policyholder, and the teens complete the program, they can receive a discount on their auto insurance, leading to cheaper premiums for those concerned with the hikes associated with teen drivers.
High premiums or not, if education is the key to reducing teen fatalities, all it takes is a parent or guardian to help prepare the teen driver so they’re ready to drive anywhere—from desert highways to curvy roads on the rocky coastlines of Maine.
-Desiree Baughman, InsuranceQuotes.org, @DesireeDB
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