The Teen Driver

Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for 16- to 20-year-olds, accounting for approximately 5,500 occupant fatalities annually. This article presents the policy statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on teenage drivers; this document is an update to the original policy statement, published in 1996. This statement describes why teenagers are at greater risk of motor vehicle–related injuries, suggests topics suitable for office-based counseling, describes innovative programs, and proposes preventive interventions for pediatricians, parents, legislators, educators, and other child advocates. Risk factors discussed include inexperience on the part of the driver, adolescent risk-taking behaviors, teenaged passengers, nighttime driving, alcohol and other drugs, safety belts, vehicles driver, distractions (including cellular telephones), unlicensed drivers, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Interventions discussed include graduated licensing systems, nighttime and passenger restrictions, driver education, alcohol-related measures, improved safety belt laws, and parental interventions. Pediatricians need to have up-to-date information and materials in order to implement appropriate counseling and anticipatory guidance for their young clients.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00314005
• Publication Date: 2006-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 2570-2581
• Serial:
  • Pediatrics
  • Volume: 118
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: American Academy of Pediatrics
  • ISSN: 0031-4005
  • EISSN: 1098-4275
  • Serial URL: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adolescents; Automobile drivers; Cellular telephones; Crash injuries; Distraction; Fatalities; Graduated licensing; Passengers; Recently qualified drivers; Risk assessment; Seat belts; Teenage drivers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Nighttime driving
• Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01045338
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 27 2007 8:38PM