Kids Behind the Wheel

New statistics indicate Drivers Education may not be the ticket to safe driving. Traffic reports tell the gruesome tales of inexperience. 16 to 19 year-olds are four times more likely to be involved in an auto accident than any other age group. And last year, 6,500 teenagers died in traffic accidents, another 600 thousand were injured.

Despite the sobering statistics, many teens, including sixteen year-old Brittany, can't wait to get on the road. "Definitely, so I can drive all my friends around," says Brittany. "And I don't have to have my mom pick me up."

Drivers Education teacher Patricia Crayton says that even kids pass the driving tests suffer from a false sense of security. "The driving test only takes five minutes," says Crayton. "There's a parking lot with no cars around and that's a false reality because once they get out into the traffic it's a whole different reality."

Crayton say kids won't be safe until there is a change in the tests, an increase in the minimum driving age and more help from parents who have 16 years to teach road safety by example. Brittany says unfortunately, kids often learn through experience. "Almost having an accident kind of jolts you back into reality," says Brittany. "And now you're like, now I got to slow down and stuff."

Currently, 26 states have responded to the disturbing statistics on young drivers by implementing some form of graduated license system. Many experts believe kids simply need more adult supervised driving time on the road. "The driving test only takes five minutes, it's a parking lot similar to this with no cars around," says Crayton. "That's a false reality kids are getting because once they actually get out into traffic, it's a whole different reality."

What Parents Can Do

Teach kids the rules of the road. Parents can teach their children good driving habits by setting a good example on the road themselves. Many experts say that kids pick up bad driving habits from parents just by driving with them in the car over the years.

Get more involved. Many experts say that parents need to get more involved with their child's drivers education instead of assuming courses and testing is teaching them to drive. Young drivers need more practice maneuvering real-life road situations with adult supervision.

Slow down. Excessive speed usually plays a part in most traffic accidents. Parents should remind student drivers to obey the speed limit at all times.