When a teenager starts learning to drive, it can be cause for concern for any parent. While there are precautionary measures one can take such as tire replacement and brake repair, which could prevent accidents, there is still the issue of peer pressure.
According to Autos.ca, new research from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm reveal that pressure from passengers could factor into a number of teen crashes.
"These studies help us understand the factors that may predispose teens to drive with multiple friends and how those passengers may contribute to crashes by distracting the driver and promoting risky driving behaviors, such as speeding, tailgating or weaving," said study author Allison Curry. "Knowing this, we can develop programs that work in tandem with current graduated driver licensing laws that limit the number of passengers for teens during their first year of driving."
Reckless teen driving continues to be a danger to today's youth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3,000 teens were killed in a car crash in 2009. Additionally, more than 350,000 were treated by emergency personnel for injuries sustained in crashes by that same year.