New analyses of fatal crash data draw attention to the continuing contribution of speeding in the fatal crashes of teen drivers. Crash data from 2000-2011 show that speeding is one of the primary factors in fatal crashes involving young male and female drivers and is implicated in about a third of all such crashes. In fact, speeding as a contributor in fatal crashes has inched up in the past decade from 30 percent in 2000 to 33 percent in 2011. The youngest drivers have a bigger problem with speeding than older drivers. Speeding is more prevalent among males, at night, and in the presence of other teen passengers and more often leads to single-vehicle and run-off-road crashes. In fact, half of fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers with three or more passengers are speeding-related. Despite the well-known role of higher speeds in crash incidence and injury, the issue of speeding among young drivers does not garner as much attention as other risk factors such as distracted or alcohol- or drug-impaired driving. Speed limits have been going up in the United States in the last two decades, with some states posting speed limits of 80 mph and higher. Speeding is a generally accepted behaviour among drivers young and old, with the vast majority admitting they speed on all road types. Unless speeding is recognized as a dangerous behaviour, much the same as alcohol-impaired driving, it will continue to be difficult to address as a society. More attention must be paid to this issue at the federal, state and local levels, and within the private sector. As well, parents should be taking the lead to do more to address speeding behaviour among their teen drivers. One effective way to reduce speeding among drivers of all ages is through the use of automated speed cameras. Although more common in other countries, the use of speed cameras in the United States is growing. A recent study has indicated that in Washington D.C., a community where speed cameras have been in place for over a decade, about 70 percent of drivers support them. State and local communities that wish to address speeding should consider use of these technologies. There is clear evidence from observational, naturalistic and crash studies that young drivers speed much more at night and in the presence of their friends, so GDL laws hat place nighttime and passenger restrictions on newly-licensed drivers take on particular importance. Many more lives could be saved if states strengthened their night and passenger restrictions. Passenger restrictions are difficult for parents to enforce when teens are driving unsupervised, so the burden lies with law enforcement to ensure that beginning drivers do not transport other teens. One tool that may help enhance enforcement is the use of license plate decals on the vehicles of beginning drivers. In 2010, New Jersey was the first state in the U.S. to enact a law to require decals for permitted and probationary drivers younger than 21 years of age. A recent study provides some evidence that the decal law has been effective, resulting in increased police citations and reduced crashes among the affected population, despite its relative unpopularity and only partial compliance. Parents hold the keys to the car, yet vehicle ownership is a factor that rarely is considered in discussions about young driver safety. Newer and larger vehicles provide better crash protection and are equipped with the latest safety features. On the other hand, parents should steer away from high-performance cars which can encourage speeding behaviour. Parents also might want to consider waiting to provide their teens a vehicle of their own, as studies have shown that teens who are considered to be primary users of their vehicles are more likely to speed. Parents are concerned about their children’s speeding and express interest in having feedback when it happens. There are a variety of aftermarket devices, some of which are specifically targeted toward a parent/teen audience, as well as in-vehicle options available on new cars that can provide this information. Studies show that monitoring devices can reduce teen drivers’ risky driving and speeding, but there is some reluctance on the part of parents and teens to use them because of concerns about trust or privacy. This hesitancy would need to be overcome for this to be an effective countermeasure. Given the high costs associated with beginning teen drivers, financial incentives might be one way to overcome these reservations. The growth in the consumption of usage-based insurance both to attract safe drivers and to teach safe driving skills is one trend that could accelerate the acceptance of driver monitoring among parents and teens. The growing availability of driver assist technologies offered in new vehicles, including those that keep drivers informed of speeds and speed limits, may also help to moderate these views as these technologies become more commonplace. (Author/publisher)
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