 NIMH: emotional maturity is primary cause of teen accidents. NIMH › Linked to biological development not individual maturity.  The frontal lobe isn’t fully developed until at least age 20. › Planning, logic, reason  Prefrontal cortex

 The amygdala isn’t fully developed until the mid twenties. › Assessment of a situation › Emotional responses  The increase in levels of dopamine is related increased risk taking. › ABC NEWS ABC NEWS

 Between 1995 and 2004, there were 30,917 fatalities in accidents that involved 15-to-17-year-old drivers,  One third of those deaths were the teen drivers themselves. The rest were pedestrians, passengers, and people in cars that teenage drivers struck

 16-year-old drivers have more accidents per highway mile than any other age group.  CDC reported recently that traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for American teenagers, accounting for about a third of all deaths in that age group.

 Every ten minutes a teen crashes in New Jersey  In 2009, there were 47,960 crashes involving teen drivers between ages 16 and 20.  Teens represent the largest contingent of New Jersey drivers involved in crashes.  They account for only 6%of the licensed drivers in the state and are involved in 13 percent of the crashes.

 Texting  Using a cell phone or smart phone  Eating and drinking  Reading, including maps  Using a navigation system  Watching a video  Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 Player  Grooming

 More up-to-date training  More hours of behind-the-wheel practice  Effective parental involvement and role modeling

“They are stereotyping all kids into one group.” “Young drivers, nervous and new to driving, probably feel more responsible than people who drive every day.: “Adult drivers feel they can have coffee and talk on the phone while driving.” “Adults assume we lack the ability to make good decisions and, therefore, don’t teach us the important things required to make good decisions.”

 On the con side of raising the driving age to 18, although younger drivers have more accidents, a lot of that is due to inexperience and one still has to gain that experience whether they start driving at 16 or 18.  While driving at age 16 is considered a right of passage, teens must know that their privilege to drive can easily be taken away by parents or law enforcement for unsafe driving. Teenagers must be responsible.  Teens with a driver's license must learn quickly to look out for their own safety, as well as the safety of those around them. Whether they have their own car or borrow the family car, teens must also learn to be responsible for its care or face the consequences.

 Being able to drive at 16 can really be helpful to parents especially with so many work. A 16 or 17- year-old driver can drive themselves to and from school, sports practices, appointments, and other activities.  If they are trustworthy, then they can also help out by driving younger siblings to school, appointments and activities. They can run needed errands such as getting things at a grocery store.  Being able to drive at 16 or 17 can often mean being able to more easily work and maybe help with household expenses or save money for college.  While many feel that 16 is too young for teenagers to be driving due to immaturity or lack of experience, driving at a young age can increase responsibility.