David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Teen brains not ideally equipped for driving
By SCOTT SMITH, The Capital
January 29, 2009
It continues to be an unfortunate fact that driving accidents remain the leading cause of death for teenagers in our country. It is all too often that we are struck by the sad news that a young adult from our own area has been injured or even killed in a motor vehicle accident. The devastation to those involved in an accident, their families and the community is unfathomable.
To put the problem in some perspective, in almost six years of action in Iraq, we have lost approximately 4,232 of our heroic service members. During that same time, without a single protest sign being waved, approximately 30,000 innocent and often unsuspecting young adults between the ages of 16 and 20 have died in car accidents on U.S. roads.
These findings raise the question as to why teenage driving is so risky and, more importantly, what can we do to improve the situation?
In an effort to help with the problem, psychology is taking a closer look at what driving requires and how teenage brains work. Research is finding that two primary factors contribute heavily to teenagers being vulnerable to driving accidents: lack of experience and the manner in which teen brains process information.
Not surprisingly to anyone who knows a teenager, they are still a "work in progress." Research is showing that the human brain develops well into the early 20s, and one of the last parts of the human brain to fully mature is the prefrontal cortex. There is even some evidence that the undeveloped prefrontal cortex actually becomes quieter during the teen years than in childhood, then revs again in the 20s. It is no surprise, then, to find that the prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that is responsible for judgment, empathy and self-control.
This developmental anomaly leaves teenagers more vulnerable to impulsive behavior, risk-taking and sensation-seeking. With their ability to think problems through and control their responses impaired, they are at higher risk for making poor decisions. Given these findings, it is amazing that we are even willing to permit teenagers to steer a 2-ton hunk of metal down the highway at 60 miles per hour.
Based upon these recent research findings, the following tips might be helpful for parents of young drivers:
Don't count on driver's education to improve safety, as there continues to be no clear correlation between the two. At this point, it doesn't look like the mandatory driver's education courses really do that much to improve driving. Of course, the kids also know after awhile which courses are easiest, least demanding and let out early.
Don't count on adult-supervised driving time to make that much of a difference, either. Surprisingly, this also does not seem to make teenagers better drivers. This may be because teenagers act differently with an adult in the car and the adults tend to "dumb down" the experience by acting as a co-driver and restricting the teen to quieter roads and safer driving conditions.
Studies show that only by driving alone do teenagers gain the experience and the skills needed to become better independent drivers. This of course is a Catch-22 because driving alone without experience creates a higher risk situation. Ideally, once the teen can drive independently, he would be encouraged to practice driving under graduated or increasingly difficult situations. This beginning independent driving may actually be the most important time to learn good driving habits.
In general, it is more effective to monitor and manage known risk conditions than it is to keep track of when a teenage driver is leaving and where he is going. Risk conditions include the number of passengers in the car, weather conditions and the time of day. For example, far fewer serious accidents happen before 9 p.m., in dry weather and without passengers, which suggests that these need to be the conditions for a beginning driver, even if the state laws are more liberal.
Make sure that your teen driver really understands the rules of the road and the "social contract" that driving involves. Despite educational emphasis and studying the driver's manual to pass the test, many young drivers don't really understand the purpose of speed limits, yielding the right of way or leaving space between cars. An emphasis upon driving gently and being courteous to others is always a good idea.
Try to take time to go over how a car actually works in order to help dispel the imaginative beliefs that many young people have developed from video games and movies. For example, a 2-ton hunk of metal doesn't really fly through the air very well and cars can't pass underneath tractor trailers. Going to a scrap yard to look at damaged cars from accidents can leave an important impression on a young driver about the actual risks of driving.
Review the prohibitions about driving while under the influence of alcohol or other substances about a thousand times and each time your young driver goes out. Although it is an obvious and well-known risk factor, teenage use of alcohol and other substances continues to be a major contributor to accidents. Prohibiting the use of cell-phones, eating while driving or transporting passengers also can help a new driver gain experience more safely.
Require that your teenage driver has had enough rest, eaten properly and is emotionally stable before he gets behind the wheel of the car. Studies are finding that at least 45 percent of teenagers are not getting enough sleep, which is a major risk factor for accidents. Driving while fatigued, hungry or emotionally charged can distract the driver, impair judgment, reduce reaction time and increase aggressive behavior.
Driving in our society is not only a rite of passage, but it is also represents freedom and independence. Learning to drive well can open up a lifetime of enjoyment, but in order for that to happen, we all have to survive first!
Dr. Scott E. Smith is a licensed clinical psychologist with Spectrum Behavioral Health in Annapolis and Arnold.
By SCOTT SMITH, The Capital
January 29, 2009
It continues to be an unfortunate fact that driving accidents remain the leading cause of death for teenagers in our country. It is all too often that we are struck by the sad news that a young adult from our own area has been injured or even killed in a motor vehicle accident. The devastation to those involved in an accident, their families and the community is unfathomable.
To put the problem in some perspective, in almost six years of action in Iraq, we have lost approximately 4,232 of our heroic service members. During that same time, without a single protest sign being waved, approximately 30,000 innocent and often unsuspecting young adults between the ages of 16 and 20 have died in car accidents on U.S. roads.
These findings raise the question as to why teenage driving is so risky and, more importantly, what can we do to improve the situation?
In an effort to help with the problem, psychology is taking a closer look at what driving requires and how teenage brains work. Research is finding that two primary factors contribute heavily to teenagers being vulnerable to driving accidents: lack of experience and the manner in which teen brains process information.
Not surprisingly to anyone who knows a teenager, they are still a "work in progress." Research is showing that the human brain develops well into the early 20s, and one of the last parts of the human brain to fully mature is the prefrontal cortex. There is even some evidence that the undeveloped prefrontal cortex actually becomes quieter during the teen years than in childhood, then revs again in the 20s. It is no surprise, then, to find that the prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that is responsible for judgment, empathy and self-control.
This developmental anomaly leaves teenagers more vulnerable to impulsive behavior, risk-taking and sensation-seeking. With their ability to think problems through and control their responses impaired, they are at higher risk for making poor decisions. Given these findings, it is amazing that we are even willing to permit teenagers to steer a 2-ton hunk of metal down the highway at 60 miles per hour.
Based upon these recent research findings, the following tips might be helpful for parents of young drivers:
Don't count on driver's education to improve safety, as there continues to be no clear correlation between the two. At this point, it doesn't look like the mandatory driver's education courses really do that much to improve driving. Of course, the kids also know after awhile which courses are easiest, least demanding and let out early.
Don't count on adult-supervised driving time to make that much of a difference, either. Surprisingly, this also does not seem to make teenagers better drivers. This may be because teenagers act differently with an adult in the car and the adults tend to "dumb down" the experience by acting as a co-driver and restricting the teen to quieter roads and safer driving conditions.
Studies show that only by driving alone do teenagers gain the experience and the skills needed to become better independent drivers. This of course is a Catch-22 because driving alone without experience creates a higher risk situation. Ideally, once the teen can drive independently, he would be encouraged to practice driving under graduated or increasingly difficult situations. This beginning independent driving may actually be the most important time to learn good driving habits.
In general, it is more effective to monitor and manage known risk conditions than it is to keep track of when a teenage driver is leaving and where he is going. Risk conditions include the number of passengers in the car, weather conditions and the time of day. For example, far fewer serious accidents happen before 9 p.m., in dry weather and without passengers, which suggests that these need to be the conditions for a beginning driver, even if the state laws are more liberal.
Make sure that your teen driver really understands the rules of the road and the "social contract" that driving involves. Despite educational emphasis and studying the driver's manual to pass the test, many young drivers don't really understand the purpose of speed limits, yielding the right of way or leaving space between cars. An emphasis upon driving gently and being courteous to others is always a good idea.
Try to take time to go over how a car actually works in order to help dispel the imaginative beliefs that many young people have developed from video games and movies. For example, a 2-ton hunk of metal doesn't really fly through the air very well and cars can't pass underneath tractor trailers. Going to a scrap yard to look at damaged cars from accidents can leave an important impression on a young driver about the actual risks of driving.
Review the prohibitions about driving while under the influence of alcohol or other substances about a thousand times and each time your young driver goes out. Although it is an obvious and well-known risk factor, teenage use of alcohol and other substances continues to be a major contributor to accidents. Prohibiting the use of cell-phones, eating while driving or transporting passengers also can help a new driver gain experience more safely.
Require that your teenage driver has had enough rest, eaten properly and is emotionally stable before he gets behind the wheel of the car. Studies are finding that at least 45 percent of teenagers are not getting enough sleep, which is a major risk factor for accidents. Driving while fatigued, hungry or emotionally charged can distract the driver, impair judgment, reduce reaction time and increase aggressive behavior.
Driving in our society is not only a rite of passage, but it is also represents freedom and independence. Learning to drive well can open up a lifetime of enjoyment, but in order for that to happen, we all have to survive first!
Dr. Scott E. Smith is a licensed clinical psychologist with Spectrum Behavioral Health in Annapolis and Arnold.
