Teenage drivers are just learning how to get from one place to another safely. They have some basic training, but it’s experience that they’re trying to build now.
Driving technology could be helpful in preventing collisions caused by errors made by new teen drivers, according to a new report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Thanks to new features, like crash avoidance technology and teen-specific tech, three out of four fatal teen crashes could be avoided, the statistics show.
Teens: Not the safest drivers
In past research, it was discovered that teens were more likely to lose control and run off the road. This is because teens are more likely to be unfamiliar with how to control the vehicle and may not recognize hazards when they’re present. Teens are also more likely to be involved in rear-end and right-angle crashes, some of which are attributed to losing focus. Research also discovered that when confronted with poor visibility or slick roads, teens weren’t as likely as other drivers to reduce their speed.
This is where the new technology could come in helpful. Technology such as front-crash prevention, parent-controlled speed limiters and lane-departure warning may help prevent crashes caused by driver error. New apps may also give parents access to real-time alerts and driving report cards so that they can monitor the way their teens are driving.
The study of these new technologies showed surprising results
Researchers looked into the teen crashes that happened between the years 2016 and 2019 to analyze those crashes and scenarios that could be relevant to the new tech features available in some vehicles. Comparing the technology to those scenarios, researchers were able to find that up to 41% of crashes could have been mitigated or prevented. This would, hypothetically, also prevent up to 78% of teen driving deaths and 47% of teenage driver injuries.
New technology could be helpful in keeping teens safe. If you have a teen driver, look into the options that are available. They may help your teen avoid crashes when they make errors so that they can be safer on the road.
