Why Make Driver Education Mandatory
Hawaii’s youngest drivers are involved in
more crashes than any other age group. Over the past 14 years,
1986-1999, drivers between the ages of 15 and 25 have accounted
for 20% of all fatalities in the state. The next two highest age
groups are persons 31-40, 15%, and persons over 65 years, 15%.
In 1999, teens ages 15-18 accounted for 12
of the state’s 98 fatalities, second only to those over 65.
Teens were involved in 1,497 crashes in 1999, with 1,596 injuries
sustained.
The primary factors contributing to the teen
crashes in Hawaii were failure to yield, 35%; speeding, 30%; and
following too closely, 23%. These factors were more than double
those same factors for all other drivers in Hawaii crashes during
the same 14-year period
Inattentive driving and misjudgment were the
human factors that caused 91% of the teen crashes over the past 14
years. Teens 15-18 rated significantly higher in these two human
factors than did all other drivers (72%) in Hawaii crashes during
the same period.
Although teens may have learned the traffic
laws to pass the written test and the basic skills to pass a road
test to get their license, the statistics show that Hawaii’s new
drivers lack appropriate training and experience and are therefore
over represented in all crash statistics. Their inexperience is
magnified when they drive with friends in their car and fail to
concentrate on their driving, don’t wear seat belts, or drink
and drive.
Fewer than 20% of teen drivers have taken
any type of formal driver education program over the past 14
years. In driver education, students learn, not only traffic laws,
but good attitudes that will help them become better drivers, make
fewer mistakes, and teach them respect for other drivers and
traffic laws. The 50-hour parent-supervised driving program, which
is part of the mandatory driver education program, will give teens
a longer period to practice their driving before obtaining their
license.
A reminder–in Hawaii, driving is a
privilege, and not a right. Once we exercise the right to drive,
we must be prepared to follow the rules and accept the
consequences that come with that privilege.
Hawaii Teen
Crash Statistics
