22,000 American Teens Dead

[cegerer]

Anybody with teen drivers in their family needs to pick up a copy of the Sept 4th AutoWeek issue dedicated entirely to the problem of teen driving.

A telling statistic from AutoWeek - since the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, 2600 Americans have died in the war. The body count ticker tape runs 24/7 thanks to our caring and compassionate media

During the same 41-months 22,000 American teens age 15-19 were killed and 300,000 injured in traffic accidents. Yet, we NEVER hear a word from our media friends about this carnage. No calls for investigations. No calls for an overhaul of the licensing system. For that matter, why are there dozens of repetitive threads on Pelican OT about the war every day but NOTHING about this slaughter (that's a rhetorical, no need to answer ... ) This is an automobile-enthusiasts' forum - shouldn't we be showing some interest or even taking the lead on this issue?

I've been putting off checking into a performance driving school for my teen daughter. This issue has, at the least, given me some renewed incentive and good leads on where to find one. Maybe I can talk a few of her friends - who have non-car enthusiast parents - into going as well.

[bryanthompson]

If you can make those 22000 deaths Bush's fault, the media/libs will be all over it.

[Joeaksa]

Agree and another thing that is rarely touched upon are the deaths by smoking.

We could lose a Boeing 747 every week full of people and not match the people who die from lung cancer, yet its rarely brought up.

These deaths are somehow "acceptable" while our soldiers who volunteer to fight for our freedom and die in the process have the Cindy Sheehan's of the country doing hunger march's on the capital.

My Father knew that if I drove the summer when I turned 16 that the chances were good of something happening. He matched anything that I saved and I ended going to Europe on a bike instead. Went over a kid and returned a man, after riding 2500 miles through 17 countries, part with a group and part alone. He probably saved my life but it was good for both of us.

[Jims5543]

I had to go back 4 pages to find this thread.

Staggering Stastistic!

I agree we, as enthusiasts, should care most about this issue. Unfortunatly it is not.

I had already discussed this with my brother, I have a friend that owns a driving school and does a teen school. My son will be going.

But that is not good enough. What if I was able to give some of you the opportunity to open your own driving school, complete with instructors and insurance, your contribution would be to market it to your local high schools and get it booked on a regular basis.

I can make this happen, I am trying to do it myself but can probably apply whatI am doing to anyone willing to invest in a franchise and the future of our contries roads.

Wouldn't it be great if we could change the way our kids learn to drive?

[cantdrv55]

Damn, this is scary. My son takes his written test next week and will start driving soon after. He saved a bunch of money from his summer job to pay for gas.

[cantdrv55]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
But that is not good enough. What if I was able to give some of you the opportunity to open your own driving school, complete with instructors and insurance, your contribution would be to market it to your local high schools and get it booked on a regular basis.

I can make this happen, I am trying to do it myself but can probably apply whatI am doing to anyone willing to invest in a franchise and the future of our contries roads.

Wouldn't it be great if we could change the way our kids learn to drive?

I'd like to hear more about this Jim.

[CJFusco]

I think it is all about attitude. I can't count how many times I have been in a parking lot and have witnessed a teenage boy driving 50mph through the busy lot. I can't count how many times I've witnessed a teenage girl flying down the road with 5 of her girlfriends in the car, gabbing, dancing, singing along to the music while not paying attention to the road.

The US needs to institute a tough-as-nails drivers' training program, a la Germany. They have the Autobahn, but their driver mortality rate is ridiculously low.

[cashflyer]

When I was in HS, driver training was a credit class you could sign up for in your junior or senior year - Only pre-req was you had to have a beginners permit.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by CJFusco
I think it is all about attitude. I can't count how many times I have been in a parking lot and have witnessed a teenage boy driving 50mph through the busy lot. I can't count how many times I've witnessed a teenage girl flying down the road with 5 of her girlfriends in the car, gabbing, dancing, singing along to the music while not paying attention to the road.

The US needs to institute a tough-as-nails drivers' training program, a la Germany. They have the Autobahn, but their driver mortality rate is ridiculously low.

Totally agree. It takes most people about 6 months and $2000 to get a license in Germany. The new drivers are exposed to high speed (autobahn), rain, snow if possible, extensive traffic and even have to pass a medical course before taking the test.

If you are a driver in Germany you MUST stop at the scene of any accident unless its clear that there are enough people already there helping. You also must be trained at basic medical to assist AND carry a medical kit in the car.

If you run out of gas on the autobahn you will be given a ticket. Its called being irresponsible and they do not put up with it.

Europe has a whole different set of rules and view on life. Some good and some not so good. Personally I agree with this part and wish that we would adopt much of it.

Regarding the above and girls, music and talking. Many states restrict new drivers for the first year to either none or a single friend under 21 in the car. Sure seems like a good way to cut down on kids showing off to friends. IMHO needs to be done with both guys and girls.

[Dottore]

Originally posted by CJFusco

The US needs to institute a tough-as-nails drivers' training program, a la Germany. They have the Autobahn, but their driver mortality rate is ridiculously low.

You are right. In Germany (and elsewhere in Europe) kids have to take a serious driver ed program - that can take several months and cost thousands of dollars. By the time these kids have their license they are actually reasonably competent (if not experienced) drivers. The same cannot be said of the people we give licenses to in Canada and the US.

I think short of some serious legislative reform along European lines - nothing will change here. Yes, you can teach your kids to drive well - and you should - but 99% of them will have only very marginal driving skills when they get their license, and these are the ones who cause the accidents.

[Aurel]

So, I conclude that Bush shoud be doing the war on teenage driving accidents, rather that the war on terror. Clearly, he is fighting the wrong war. He could also undertake the war on obesity and cancer, that would save countless lives too.

Chances that we will be directly affected by an act of terrorism are completely remote. The odds that we will be affected by a car accident, an obesity related disease or cancer are much, much higher. And yet, the media pounds our heads with terrorism and Islamo-facsism. I call it a criminal misleading of the population that hides the real threats.

Aurel

[cegerer]

I've often thought about how I learned to drive as a 16-year old. Being a boy, I guess taking risks and doing stupid things is how I learned. Living in snow-country was a HUGE benefit. Nothing like some nice long power slides and donuts in the parking lot to learn about car control. Or driving on the Interstate with 2 wheels in heavy slush trying to pull you into the median to learn about oversteer and understeer. Obviously, that's not the right way to learn, nor the best way.

Jim, your idea sounds interesting.

[Dottore]

Originally posted by Aurel
So, I conclude that Bush shoud be doing the war on teenage driving accidents, rather that the war on terror. Clearly, he is fighting the wrong war. He could also undertake the war on obesity and cancer, that would save countless lives too.

Aurel

Why do you Yanks see every issue in terms of "war". How about just a little bit of leadership on some of these issues?

[nostatic]

we're back to personal responsibility (or the lack thereof). That, and the "I deserve everything" attitude. Driving is no longer treated as a privelege, and we as a society have fostered that. We build crappy public transit that only the poor will endure, we encourage ridiculous consumption of natural resources on all levels, and we don't worry about the consequences because the faceless insurance companies will cover our laziness/stupidity/ego.

You want to talk about a real problem? I read an article that talked about the obesity pandemic. Worldwide. There is talk that this generation will be the first one that does not live longer than their parents. Because of obesity.

So what do we do? Thousands of people are killed by guns in this country but we fight tooth and nail to make sure that we can own them. Thousands die in traffic accidents, but we insist that driving is our right. Do we legislate driving more heavily? What behaviours do you want to control the most, and which the least?

[Howard Agency]

Originally posted by cegerer
I've often thought about how I learned to drive as a 16-year old. Being a boy, I guess taking risks and doing stupid things is how I learned. Living in snow-country was a HUGE benefit. Nothing like some nice long power slides and donuts in the parking lot to learn about car control. Or driving on the Interstate with 2 wheels in heavy slush trying to pull you into the median to learn about oversteer and understeer. Obviously, that's not the right way to learn, nor the best way.

Jim, your idea sounds interesting.

+1.

Preaching to the choir here. As an insurance broker in the war zone (SoCal) for 40+ years I've seen the results. Yup, we lost more 16-25 year old males each day on the highways than we did in combat during Korea and Vietnam.

But IMHO the problem rests squarely with the parents. Expecting the 'system' to keep your kids safe on the road makes as much sense as thinking the schools and churches will completely educate and moralize them without parental involvement.

My kids had lots of hours driving before they turned 16. No slush here, so used dirt roads out in the desert and pylons from soccer practice. Illegal? Kinda, but they did understand much of the physics of driving and how to change a tire.

Part 2 is tougher.. the rules. Mine included daylight hours only, window at least partially down, no tunes, situational awareness. Encourage a healthy sense of paranoia about other drivers.

Knock on wood, they both survived. That's the parents' job.

[Jims5543]

I have been playing phone tag with my friend. My intention is to explore the possibility of being a laison for her school and booking events in HS parking lots in my area. (Or if the local polica have a skid pad and are willing to lend/rent it out for this event all the better)

I just read this article as well and this got me thinking I can do something. My idea is in its infancy and when I have enough info to pass along to you guys I will.

My dream? To see this school have events once a month in every HS in america, I am hoping we can even get these kids discounts on insurance too. I have a lot of work to do and I am just starting. Like I said when I have some info I will pass it on.

This is from my friends performance driving school website. She primarily instructs for competative driving. She used to be a drivers ed insturctor in a high school. She added this teen driving school to her calander and it gets a very weak response.

I hope to change that.

Teenage Driving Instruction
Bring your teenager to a school where they can learn what a car's limits feel like. They will have the opportunity to understand what can happen when driving on the edge and how to control and correct unwanted situations created by inexperience and under developed skills. They get the advantage of learning in YOUR car. All instruction is hands on in a controlled environment. This class is great for parent/teenager to do together. The school takes what you may or may not have as a driver and enhances upon that. National winning race car drivers create an atmosphere of invaluable instruction combined with fun and excitement. Contact host person listed on the calendar for registration and details.

[Nathans_Dad]

Originally posted by nostatic
What behaviours do you want to control the most, and which the least?

Now you're starting to sound like a right wing religio-freak who wants to control other people's lives...

[svandamme]

Originally posted by Dottore
You are right. In Germany (and elsewhere in Europe) kids have to take a serious driver ed program - that can take several months and cost thousands of dollars. By the time these kids have their license they are actually reasonably competent (if not experienced) drivers. The same cannot be said of the people we give licenses to in Canada and the US.

actually , there are "boy racers" here as well that cause carnage

but yes, our drivers ed is a lot harder


but i think the main reason here is that kids do not automatically get a car when they are 16 here


for one thing, you have to be minimum 18 over here

for another thing, cars are more expensive, fuel is more expensive, we have a better public transportation system

and people do not just give a brand new car to a kid who hasn't earned bupkis.. note necesarely about money earned, but generallly , at 16 , you're just a kid, you haven't proven much ( exceptions to the rule exist, i know )


on MTV we get these stupid shows, "Sweet 16" about snotnoze brats, with rich daddies... and the girls just goes "i always get what i want ... " and "nooo daddy , i don't want thatone? i want that one !!! EEEEIEIEEHEIEEHHE"

daddy goes ... ooowkaaaay and whips out a checque book for a spanking brand new SUV...


ok , well if that's the way you raise your kids, then yeah , you gonna have dumdums with no respect for anything...just don't complain about it lateron...

[nostatic]

hey wait, I thought I was a tree-hugging anti-gun liberal whacko who wants to control other people's lives...

[Howard Agency]

Originally posted by Nathans_Dad
Now you're starting to sound like a right wing religio-freak who wants to control other people's lives...

Ha! I knew we could make this political!
But seriously, that's a fine idea, Jim, but I'm afraid the litigious nature of the folks today would kill it.