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Hergott: There are 㽶ƵֱN㽶Ƶֱ drivers for a reason

Some sound advice after Hergott㽶Ƶֱs teenage daughter asked permission to get a ride home with a New Driver who was taking other friends home as well
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㽶Ƶֱ By Paul Hergott

㽶ƵֱCan I go on a short drive with a new driver with other people in the car?㽶Ƶֱ

For those unfamiliar with British Columbia㽶Ƶֱs graduating licensing program, the last stage of the process is a 㽶ƵֱNew Driver.㽶Ƶֱ A New Driver must display an 㽶ƵֱN㽶Ƶֱ and is restricted to one passenger who is not their immediate family.

My teenage daughter was asking my permission to get a ride home with a New Driver who was taking other friends home as well.

It was a text message. My texted response: 㽶ƵֱWould you go for a short drive if he was drunk?㽶Ƶֱ

I followed, in quick succession, with the following texts:

㽶ƵֱWhat if there were no seatbelts?㽶Ƶֱ

㽶ƵֱWhat if he was talking the whole time on his cell phone?㽶Ƶֱ

㽶ƵֱStoned on weed㽶Ƶֱ?㽶Ƶֱ

She emphatically affirmed that she would not be a passenger in any of those scenarios.

Why is the 㽶ƵֱNew Driver㽶Ƶֱ passenger restriction any different for her?

She has learned that some rules are more important than others. For the unimportant rules, a little cheating is ok, right?

Our last visit to Vancouver㽶Ƶֱs Science World is an example. Kids have to be at least 13, which they call a 㽶Ƶֱyouth,㽶Ƶֱ to be unaccompanied. It㽶Ƶֱs not good enough for an 11 year old to be accompanied by his 15 year old sister.

Yes, we tried to get away with breaking that rule. Hopefully, next time, our son will know better than to shout out 㽶ƵֱI am not a youth!㽶Ƶֱ while we㽶Ƶֱre buying their tickets!

Applying that logic, my daughter, obviously didn㽶Ƶֱt think the New Driver passenger restriction was an important rule.

Is it?

If the rule is about driver distraction, why does it not apply to immediate family members? Why is there no restriction at all on number of passengers if a 25 year old license holder is sitting beside you?

A little googling will give you the answer. Passenger restrictions for new drivers are based on science. And yes they are important.

Check out this study from May, 2012:

Having even one passenger under age 21 increases a 16-17 year old㽶Ƶֱs risk of a fatal crash by 44 per cent.

With two passengers, the risk is doubled.

With three or four, it㽶Ƶֱs quadrupled.

Conversely, having an older passenger (35 years or older in this study) actually decreases the risk by 62 per cent.

Why is it more dangerous for teenagers to have peer passengers? It㽶Ƶֱs interesting stuff that I could not possibly 㽶Ƶֱnutshell㽶Ƶֱ in a convincing way in this column.

One issue, apparently, is that research has found that the prefrontal cortex of the brain 㽶Ƶֱ the region responsible for weighing the consequences of risky behavior 㽶Ƶֱ is the last part of the brain to develop. According to one study, 㽶ƵֱNovice drivers (15 to 17 years old) are at a distinct disadvantage, not only because of their limited driving experience, but also because of their incomplete brain development.㽶Ƶֱ

Add in peer pressure.

Add in an inclination to display a reckless disregard for authority, and 㽶Ƶֱshow off㽶Ƶֱ to their peers.

Simply, new drivers are more easily distracted and more likely to take risks when other teenagers are in the vehicle.

Are you a parent of a teen? Help them understand that these rules are important.

that might assist you and your teen understand and therefore reduce the risks of teen driving,

If driver safety isn㽶Ƶֱt enough of a motivator, perhaps talk practically to your teen about the traffic ticket and points the driver will face if caught by the police.

The vehicle occupants could agree, in advance, to pitch in for the fine. The three points against the driver㽶Ƶֱs license cannot be (which depending on circumstances could dramatically increase vehicle insurance and/or cause the driver to lose the license altogether). A good friend would not let their friend take that risk.



About the Author: Black Press Media Staff

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