Road trauma remains one of the leading causes of death for young
drivers worldwide. Despite continued funding and the implementation of
effective road safety strategies, road fatalities in this age group have
remained relatively high. Public Health Community need to push for more
comprehensive legislation and better enforcement based on the evidence.
(1, 2)
To achieve acceptable reduction in youth motor vehicle crash related
injuries and fatalities, various road safety strategies for new drivers
must receive priority. (2, 3) It is evident that our current graduated
licensing laws (GDL) have been steering young drivers in the right
direction. However, until cell phone ban, maximum speed limits, zero
tolerance for alcohol use and compulsory seat belt laws are incorporated
into the graduated licensing system throughout North America and the
world, it is unlikely that we could save our precious young lives and
could make difference in our road safety. One of the major reasons teens
are killed or seriously injured when involved in traffic crashes is lack
of safety belt use. GDL laws that explicitly include requirements for
safety belt use in all phases, and sanctions that prohibit “graduation” to
the next licensing phase if there is a safety belt citation, could
increase teen belt use substantially. Zero-tolerance program for nonuse of
safety belts, use of cell phone while driving and exceeding safe posted
speed limits could be implemented, with immediate loss of license or other
administrative penalties resulting for non-compliance.
Parents must actively involve in youth driver education, training and
supervision more than before. With parents close supervision and guidance;
it is easy to implement nighttime driving restrictions and passenger
restrictions. Effective policies to reduce easy access of alcohol to youth
drivers must receive due concern. Entertainment industry and business
community must take initiative for serving alcohol with extra
responsibility. Otherwise we will have only symbolic value of those
effective policies such as zero tolerance and minimum drinking age laws.
Alcohol industry responsibility towards youth motor vehicle crash
prevention must be clearly defined in national alcohol policy.
No policy can be effective unless it is adequately implemented and
enforced, and there is awareness of both the policy and the enforcement
efforts on the part of the intended targets.(4, 5) As with all above zero-
tolerance programs, enforcement and strategic media campaigns to increase
youth drivers awareness of the law and of its enforcement efforts could
significantly increase the effectiveness of these laws.
REFERENCES:
(1).Ginsburg K.R., Winston F.K., Senserrick T.M., García-España F.,
Kinsman S., Quistberg D.A., Ross J.G., Elliott M.R. National young-driver
survey: teen perspective and experience with factors that affect driving
safety. Pediatrics. 2008;121(5):e1391-403.
(2) Desapriya E., Pike I., Raina P., Severity of alcohol-related
motor vehicle crashes in British Columbia: case - control study.Int J Inj
Contr Saf Promot. 2006;13(2):89-94
(3).. Desapriya, E., Shimizu, S., Pike, I., Smith, D. Impact of
Lowering the legal BAC Limit to .03 on teenage drinking and driving
related crashes in Japan-Japanese Journal of Alcohol & Drug Dependence
2006; 41 (6) 513-527
(4) Johnston B.D., Rivara F.P., Droesch R.M., Dunn C., Copass M.K.
Behavior change counseling in the emergency department to reduce injury
risk: a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2002; 110:267 -274
(5). American Academy of Pediatrics Committees on Injury, Violence
and Poison Prevention, and on Adolescence. The teen driver. Pediatrics
2006;118:2570-81
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
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