Editor’s Note: Hang up and drive

A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that the majority of people killed in crashes involving teenaged drivers are people other than the teen driver themselves.

As anyone who’s ever been a teenager, parented a teenager or even been around a teenager, that is to say-everyone except, perhaps, those who are currently teenagers-can attest: Teenagers driving cars are, like, scary, dude.

Sorry, teens, the numbers don’t lie. According to the American Automobile Association, car crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers, and a recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that the majority of people killed in crashes involving teenaged drivers are people other than the teen driver.

Analysis of ten years of crash data showed that between 1995 and 2004 crashes involving 15-, 16- and 17-year-old drivers claimed the lives of 30,917 people nationwide, of which 11,177 (36.2 percent) were the teen drivers themselves. The remaining 19,740 (63.6 percent) included 9,847 passengers of the 15 to 17-year-old drivers, 7,477 occupants of other vehicles operated by drivers at least 18 years of age, 2,323 non-motorists and 93 others/unknowns.

The AAA for years has been advocating for states to adopt or strengthen graduated driving laws (GDL) for teens. Such laws require teens to get more supervised behind-the-wheel driving experience and phased-in driving privileges restricted to low-risk times and situations, until a full license is granted. AAA said it reached its goal of passing GDL laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia when both Wyoming and Montana enacted laws last year.

The Oklahoma Legislature enacted a graduated driving law last year and this year another measure aimed at teen driving safety is making its way through the lawmaking process. Senate Bill 1542, backed by state Sen. Clark Jolley and Rep. John B. Nance, would restrict teens with learner’s permits from using a hand-held cell phone while driving. Jolley, who authored the bill, said it was important for new drivers to focus on the road instead of their cell phones.

SB 1542 passed out of the Senate and as of this writing is being considered in the House Public Safety Committee. The measure would allow teens to use phones equipped with hands-free headsets.

“We’ve seen recent studies that discuss the high incidence of accidents by young drivers and the high correlation to the use of cell phones and the distraction that causes,” said Jolley, R-Edmond. “The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that motorists that use cell phones are four times more likely to have a crash than those who don’t-when you take that into consideration, it seems obvious that new drivers don’t need to be taking additional risks by trying to drive while making calls on a cell phone.”

So, young drivers, hang up and, like, drive. Now for the cell phone addicted adults among us