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Young Drivers

The Virginia Association of Driver Education and Traffic Safety (VADETS) is interested in your safety! This web site is dedicated to assisting you, your parents, your teachers, and others in helping you, the young driver, to learn to drive safely.

VADETS does this because its members, mostly driver education teachers in Virginia, are aware that the way you drive a motor vehicle will, to a large degree, determine if you become a traffic statistic or a safe driver.

Young drivers are at more risk to be involved in traffic accidents than older drivers! You may think you have heard that too many times. Below are a few of the facts. See for yourself then make up your own mind.

Alcohol related facts:

In 2000, 21 percent of drivers between 15 and 20 years old who were killed in crashes were intoxicated. (NHTSA)
Nineteen states (including Virginia) consider drivers to be intoxicated if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08 percent or higher. All states, plus the District of Columbia, have zero tolerance laws for drivers under age 21. (NHTSA)
Drivers are less likely to use safety belts when they have been drinking. In 2000, 69 percent of the young drivers who had been drinking and were involved in a fatal crash were not wearing a safety belt. (NHTSA)
Of the young drivers who had been drinking and were killed in crashes, 80 percent were unrestrained (NHTSA).
For drivers between 15 and 20 years old involved in fatal crashes, alcohol involvement is higher for males than for females. In 2000, 26 percent of the young male drivers in fatal crashes had been drinking, compared with 13 percent of the young female drivers in fatal crashes. (NHTSA)
Male teenage drivers with a BAC in the 0.05 to 0.10 percent range are 18 times more likely than sober teenagers to be killed in a single-vehicle crash. The corresponding comparison for female teenage drivers is 54 times more likely. (IIHS)
When compared proportionally to other age groups, 16 to 20 year-olds historically have the highest percentage of traffic deaths on our nation's highways. Despite this trend, last year's traffic fatality rate for Virginia's 16 and 17 year-olds decreased. Between January 1 and December 31, 2000, 48 individuals in the 16 and 17 year-old age group died on Virginia's roads, down four percent compared to the same period in 1999. Virginia fatalities in the 18 to 20 year-old age group, however, increased at an alarming rate. Between January 1 and December 31, 2000, 109 individuals in the 18 to 20 year-old age group died on Virginia's roads, up 73 percent compared with the same period in 1999.

A Closer Look at facts from the year 2000 Fatal Crashes Involving 18 to 20 year-olds

Primary causes of the crashes during 2000 included:

driver inexperience
driver distraction
excessive speed
low usage rate of safety belts
use of alcohol
65 of the 109 victims (60 percent) were not wearing safety belts.

Of the 109 fatalities during the 2000 year:

61 (56 percent) were involved in run off the road crashes
six (six percent) drifted into the path of oncoming traffic
five (five percent) failed to yield right of way
one (one percent) occurred on an icy road
44 (40 percent) were alcohol-related.
Of the 109 fatalities, 70 (64 percent) were drivers, 36 (33 percent) were passengers and three (three percent) were pedestrians.
Run-off-the-road crashes typically occur when the vehicle drifts and two or all four wheels drop off the road onto the shoulder. A drop of just two inches can cause the driver to lose control. But, the speed of travel, condition of the tires, and condition of the road shoulder can also cause loss of control. If the driver panics and over-corrects to return the vehicle to the pavement or locks the brakes, the vehicle either slingshots across the road or skids into a fixed object and begins to roll.

To see facts from 2001, click here!

Nine basic actions can help minimize the number of crashes

Inexperienced, as well as experienced drivers, can prevent crashes by avoiding distractions and maintaining control of their vehicles. The following basics will help drivers with all levels of experience perform safely behind the wheel. But before you do anything - buckle-up. And, be sure all of your passengers are buckled up.

1. Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel!

Driver distraction is reaching epidemic proportions in drivers of all ages, but especially in young, inexperienced drivers. Consider all the things in a vehicle that can occupy a driver's attention: cell phones, radios and CD players, sophisticated vehicle controls, fast food and other drive-through conveniences, laptop computers and onboard navigation devices, not to mention passengers, children and pets.

In today's communities, more people spend more time in vehicles and on the road. Thus, they often try to maximize driving time by combining it with other activities, often with tragic consequences. Driving is not a multi-functional task. It requires the driver's full attention.

2. Set or adjust the controls on the vehicle and other devices as soon as you get in the car.

Fasten your safety belt and adjust your mirrors, the radio or CD player, and the climate control settings. Make sure everyone else in your vehicle is buckled up and that all objects are securely stowed.

3. Keep your body alert.

Sit straight, but relaxed. Place your left hand between the 7 and 9 o'clock positions on the steering wheel and your right hand between the 3 and 5 o'clock positions on the wheel. Hold the wheel with your fingers and thumbs. Avoid gripping it tightly because your palms are not as sensitive as your fingers. Look in the direction that you want to go.

4. Avoid using a cell or wireless telephone.

If you must use the phone,

Make sure it's easy to reach and that you know how to operate it.
Use a hands-free microphone when talking on the phone in the car.
Use speed dial for frequently called numbers.
Completely exit the roadway and pull into a parking space if you need to take notes, manually dial a number or if the conversation becomes emotional.
If it's inconvenient to answer the phone, let your wireless network pick up the call or simply ignore it.

5. Anticipate the traffic and the environment around you.

Maintain space around your car. Use the three second rule to keep space between you and the vehicle ahead.
Don't cut in front of other vehicles.
Don't drive parallel with another vehicle. If something blocks your path ahead, you'll need the room on either side of your vehicle to escape the obstacle in front of you.
If someone tailgates you, move into another lane and let the tailgater pass. Or, pull off the road so the person can pass. Avoid speeding up or slowing down.
As you drive, look four or five vehicles ahead. This helps you anticipate stops, slowdowns, curves or other changes in the traffic or roadway.
Check your rearview mirrors approximately every ten seconds. This helps you anticipate hazards approaching from behind.

6. Know the type of braking system that your vehicle uses.

If your vehicle uses an anti-locking braking system (ABS), keep your foot firmly on the pedal if you stop suddenly. Do not pump the brakes in an emergency situation. This will provide false information to your braking system, preventing it from operating correctly.
If your vehicle is not equipped with anti-lock brakes, press the brake pedal firmly, just short of locking the wheels. If your wheels lock, indicating a skid, let up slightly on the brake pressure. Then, reapply pressure to the brake. Continue this squeezing action until the vehicle stops.

7. Reduce your speed and increase your following distance.

Slow down in bad weather or other poor driving conditions, such as rain, fog, snow, ice, and heavy traffic. If you are uncomfortable with the speed limit, for whatever reason, slow down.

8. Maintain the speed limit.

Speeding will not get you to your destination faster. Speed influences a crash in four ways:

It increases the distance your vehicle travels from the time you recognize an emergency until you can react.
It increases the distance it takes to stop your vehicle. The faster you go, the more distance it takes to stop your vehicle.
Crash severity increases incrementally with speed. For example, if your speed increases from 40 to 60 miles an hour, your speed increases 50 percent while the energy released in a crash more than doubles.
Higher speeds reduce the ability of vehicles, safety belts, air bags, guardrails and barriers to protect vehicle occupants in a crash.

9. Avoid sudden moves or over-correction.

A sudden response or over-correction, such as jerking the steering wheel to the right or left, or slamming on the brakes can cause the vehicle to skid, swerve into oncoming traffic or veer off the roadway. You can avoid sudden surprises that lead to reactive moves by watching the traffic and roadway ahead, behind and around you.

Beginning Teenage Drivers: Stop and Think!

Driving Laws for Virginia's Teens

Your driver's license gives you a lot of freedom. But, it also brings new responsibilities. Here's a summary of some of your responsibilities.

You must be a resident of the Commonwealth and at least 16 years and three months of age to obtain a driver's license. You may apply for a learner's permit when you turn 15 years and six months of age. Without exception, if you are under age 18, you must hold the learner's permit for at least nine months or until you turn 18 before you can receive your driver's license. In addition, until you reach age 19, you must provide proof of successful completion of a state-approved driver's education course which includes both classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction.
In order to get your learner's permit, you will need to pass a two-part knowledge exam and a vision screening at DMV. Contact your nearest DMV customer service center for a driver's manual and be sure to study it before you take the exam. If you are under 18 and you fail the test, you must wait 15 days before you can take it again.
Your learner's permit allows you to operate a motor vehicle when a licensed driver at least 21 years of age is seated beside you. Or, if the person accompanying you is your legal guardian, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother or step-sister, he or she must be at least 18 years of age. The driver accompanying you must hold a valid driver's license, be legally permitted to drive and be alert and able to assist you. They may not be under the influence of alcohol or have a suspended license. If you learn to drive with an experienced and safe driver, you'll learn more and be better prepared for the challenges of safe driving.
New curfew laws prohibit drivers under age 18 who hold a learner's permit or driver's license from driving from midnight to 4 a.m. If you hold a driver's license you may drive during these hours in case of an emergency, when traveling to and from work or a school-sponsored event or when accompanied by a parent or other adult acting in place of a parent.
Also, you are restricted to the number of passengers under age 18 which may travel with you when you drive (one passenger if you are age 16; three passengers if you are age 17). If you hold a learner's permit you may carry only one passenger under age 18. Passenger restrictions do not apply to family members.
If you are under age 20, you will be required to attend a driver improvement clinic after your first demerit point conviction (including safety belt and child restraint violations). You will not receive safe driving points for attending this clinic. If you do not complete the clinic within 90 days, your driving privilege will be suspended until the clinic is completed. If you are under age 18, after your second demerit point conviction, DMV will suspend your permit or license for 90 days. After the third demerit point conviction, DMV will revoke your permit or license for one year or until you reach age 18, whichever is longer. Drive safely, obey all the signs and be sure you and your passengers buckle-up and this won't be a problem.
Your parents, custodial parent or guardian have responsibilities, too. If you are under age 18, they must give permission for you to obtain a driver's license and certify that you received at least 40 hours of driving practice (10 hours completed after sunset) before you receive a license. They can also take your license for any amount of time or direct DMV to cancel your license for a six-month period. Talk to your parents or guardian about what they expect from you as a new driver in the family.
A juvenile court judge can suspend your license for any number of reasons, including truancy, alcohol or drug-related offenses, delinquency and curfew violations. Keep your record clean and you'll stay on the road.

*If you'd like a complete look at all the laws that apply to being a licensed driver, check this out: Licensing Laws of Virginia

General Facts

In 2000, 16,653 people were killed in crashes involving alcohol in the United States. (NHTSA)

An alcohol-related fatality occurs approximately every 32 minutes. (NHTSA)
On average, a person is injured in an alcohol-related crash every 2 minutes. (NHTSA)
In 2000, there were almost 2 alcohol-related traffic deaths per hour, 45 per day and 315 per week. That is the equivalent of 2 jetliners crashing week after week. (NHTSA)
More than two-thirds of people killed in alcohol-related crashes are intoxicated. (NHTSA)
About 1 in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. (NHTSA)
Alcohol was involved in 40 percent of fatal crashes and in 8 percent of all crashes in 2000. (NHTSA)

Time of Occurrence

Every weekday night from 10pm to 1am, one in 13 drivers is drunk (BAC of .08 or more). (MADD)
Between 1am and 6am on weekend mornings, one in seven drivers is drunk. (MADD)
Among passenger vehicle drivers fatally injured between 9pm and 6am in 2000, 54 percent had a BAC at or above .10 percent compared with 16% during other hours. (IIHS)
Forty-two percent of fatally injured drivers on weekends (6pm Friday-6am Monday) in 2000 had BACs at or above .10 percent. On other days of the week, the proportion was 21 percent. (IIHS)
Alcohol involvement is highest in nighttime (9pm to 6am) single-vehicle crashes, in which 64 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers in 2000 had a BAC at or above .10 percent. Only 26 percent of the fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers involved in nighttime single-vehicle crashes had no alcohol in their blood. (IIHS)

Teenagers

Among drivers who aren't legally permitted to buy alcohol (16 to 20 years old), 22 percent of fatally injured drivers in 2000 had BACs at or above .10 percent. (IIHS)
Among teenage drivers (16 to 19 years old), 23 percent of fatally injured male drivers and 10 percent of fatally injured female drivers had BACs at or above .10 percent. (IIHS)
Male teenage drivers with BACs in the .05 to .10 percent range are 17 times more likely than sober teenagers to be killed in single-vehicle crashes. The corresponding comparison for females is 7 times more likely. (IIHS)
If you are under age 21 and you drive with a BAC of at least 0.02 percent but less than 0.08 percent, you can be fined up to $500 and have your driver's license suspended for six months. (DMV)
Fifty-four percent of teenage motor vehicle deaths in 2000 occurred on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (IIHS)
Forty-one percent of teenage motor vehicle deaths in 2000 occurred between 9pm and 6am. (IIHS)
There has been a 29 percent reduction of intoxicated young drivers involved in fatal crashes since 1990. (NHTSA)

Blood Alcohol Concentration

A BAC as low as .02 percent has been shown to affect driving ability. The probability of a crash rises significantly after the BAC reaches .05 percent and even more rapidly after about .08 percent. (IIHS)
A driver with a BAC of 0.15 is more than 300 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash. (NHTSA)
Two-thirds of drivers involved in alcohol-related traffic fatalities have a (BAC) of .14 or greater. (NHTSA)
The average BAC of a person arrested for DUI in this country is between .16 and .17 percent (the legal limit is .08 or .10, depending on the state). (NHTSA)
Among fatally injured motor vehicle drivers in 2000, 29 percent had BACs at or above .10 percent. (USDOT)
The proportion of driver deaths involving BACs at or above .10 percent in 2000 was 30 percent for passenger vehicles and 29 percent for motorcycles. (IIHS)

Laws

In Virginia, the BAC limit is .08 percent and for a first offense and the administrative license suspension period is 7 days. (IIHS)
All but two states (MA and SC) and DC have per se laws defining it as a crime to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above a proscribed level, usually 0.10 percent (VA is .08 percent). (IIHS)
Forty-one states and DC have administrative license suspension laws. Administrative license suspension allows an individual's license to be suspended when a driver fails or refuses to take a chemical test. (IIHS)

To learn more about young drivers check out a recent study done in Virginia: Study Results

Prior to learning to drive, a young person should be made aware of his parents' expectations. Below are suggested financial and maintenance considerations and expectations for beginning drivers. It is suggested that parents and their child(ren) sign the Parent/Teen Driving Agreement prior to beginning to learn to drive to be sure both understand their agreed upon responsibilities.

Parent/Teen Driving Agreement

Financial responsibilities for vehicle costs (indicate who pays and how much)

Fuel costs Parent $______ Teen Driver $_______
Maintenance costs Parent $______ Teen Driver $_______
Taxes and registration cost Parent $______ Teen Driver $_______
Monthly insurance costs Parent $______ Teen Driver $_______

Maintenance responsibilities (indicate how has the responsibility for each item below)

Checking vehicle fluids Parent______ Teen Driver_______
Checking tire pressure Parent______ Teen Driver_______
Cleaning vehicle interior Parent______ Teen Driver_______
Cleaning vehicle windows Parent______ Teen Driver_______
Cleaning vehicle exterior Parent______ Teen Driver_______

As a beginning driver I agree to

Wear my seat belt when driving a motor vehicle and require those in a vehicle I am operating to wear their seat belts. If I do not comply the consequence will be ________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Do well in school academically and behaviorally If I do not comply the consequence will be_____ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Obey traffic laws and drive safely at all times If I do not comply the consequence will be________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Agree not to drink and drive If I do not comply the consequence will be_________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Comply with my curfew If I do not comply the consequence will be _____________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Comply with passenger restrictions If I do not comply the consequence will be _________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Provide my parents/guardians with my destination and time of return If I do not comply the consequence will be__________________________________________________________________________.
Not allow others to drive my vehicle If I do not comply the consequence will be_________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Call if I will be late If I do not comply the consequence will be___________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Behave responsibly and be a courteous driver If I do not comply the consequence will be_______ __________________________________________________________________________________________________.

As the parent I agree to

Be patient
Teach proper driving techniques
Provide a safe and reliable motor vehicle for my child
Make sure my child drives in accordance with the laws of the road and the vehicle laws of Virginia
Not allow my child to drive when he/she is physically, mentally or otherwise not able to drive safely
Teach my child to be a courteous driver

Signature of Beginning Driver_____________________________________________Date____/____/____

Signature of Parent(s)_____________________________________________________Date____/____/____

Shopping for a safe car? Check this out:

http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/sfsc.htm

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