Unit-4 Discussion - Research Paper Example

Unit-4 Discussion UNIT-4 DISCUSSION In relation with statistics provided by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, car accident is the leading cause of death among teenagers. Car accidents occur among teenagers if they are inexperienced, speeding, indulging in distractions, not wearing seatbelts or drink when driving. This paper explores the policies put up by states to help reduce the number of motor vehicle fatalities. The state of New Hampshire has one of the best policies, which have helped in curbing reckless driving by teenagers, the Graduated Licensing Program.

In this state, teenagers start driving practice with a minimum age of 151/2, and during the practice, the teenager is expected to be in the company of 25 years and above adult. Responsibility as a driver is also instilled in New Hampshire by the law that states that young drivers can only transport a single passenger below 25 years at a time, but this change when the driver is in the company of an adult above 25 years. Another law against drinking and driving entail a fine of $500 towards a first offence (Chen, 2006).

A second state, which has put restrictions that have helped in reducing teenage fatalities because of car accident, is Illinois. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program in Illinois has been effective in that it has increased driving privileges for responsible and safe drivers while at the same time identified reckless and dangerous drivers. Through the program, driving restriction on teenagers who drive safely is loosened from one driving staged to another (Chen, 2006). Various studies have indicated that there is a correlation between GDL policies and reduction of car accidents caused by teenage drivers.

In particular, GDL has led to reduction of accidents caused by 16-year-old teenage drivers (Chen, 2006). ReferenceChen L. (2006). Graduated Driver Licensing Programs and Fatal Crashes of 16-Year-Old Drivers: A National Evaluation. Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 56-62.