Acceptance of and Engagement in Risky Driving Behaviors by Teenagers - Essay Example

Teen Driving Since their advent, cars have remained a major component of the human society; however, it is an observation that their status continued to change in different periods. In specific, cars have been the major notion of attraction for young individuals even when it was an expensive luxury, and when it has now become a necessity. In this regard, teen driving has been one of the major concerns of policymakers, as well as parents globally, especially in the United States as it has become one of the principal factors of deaths of adolescents in the country. Experts (Arnett, pp. 469-480) have indicated that teens have been part of more than thirty percent of traffic accidents and crashes that indicate the fatal impact of teen driving in the country. Thus, it has now become very imperative to identify the factors that promote and encourage teens to involve in driving practices, and especially reckless driving that is the major apprehension for experts (Arnett, pp. 469-480) associated with this issue. Analysis of the literature (Arnett, pp. 469-480) related to teen driving has indicated that lack of experience has been the major cause of teens’ car accidents along with a number of behavioral and developmental factors. Besides inexperience, studies have pointed out that teens do not feel the need of utilizing seat belts, and they attempt to cross the speed limits while using cell phones, having cigarettes and even alcohol during driving. Music and utilization of video screens in the cars is another common practice associated with teen driving that becomes the notion of distraction for teens, and cause accidents and crashes. While comparing data (Liu et al, pp. 1084-1088) with the adult drivers, speeding is the major factor that exists in teen driving cases that specifies the level of excitement and pleasure associated with teen driving. In addition, one can have an idea of the level of excitement by knowing that these days; the license department of vehicles has become the foremost stop for teenagers to begin their celebration of 16th birthday that shows the symbolization of cars as an adult certificate. Studies (Arnett, pp. 469-480) have shown that acquisition of a driver’s license is a significant target for teenagers to exhibit their skills and capabilities in front of their peers. In other words, getting a driver’s license nowadays stands next to high school graduation as an avenue of entering the maturity level according to teenagers (Gardner & Steinberg, pp. 625-635). In addition, peer relationships matter the most in the teenage period and they play a crucial role in the promotion of teen driving as well. It is an observation that although peer relationships often work as a supportive partner; however, they are the major contributors when it comes to encouraging high-risk behaviors in teenagers (Gardner & Steinberg, pp. 625-635). A number of teens get involved in reckless driving practices along with usage of cigarettes and alcohol to show off in front of their friend that is a way of showing that they are adults and have the experience of driving a car in that way (Gardner & Steinberg, pp. 625-635). Moreover, a number of teens accepted that they even attempted to drive cars with their knees, and it was a cool way of driving according to them despite they knew the deadly risks associated with such reckless driving practices (Sarkar & Andreas, pp. 687-700). Since the invention of first automobile in 1769 by Nicolas Cugnot until now, automobile firms have focused primarily on the teens and adolescents as their most important targets and prospective drivers. Analysis (Liu et al, pp. 1084-1088) of advertisements of different cars has shown that speed and excitement has been the two major factors that exist in the media for encouraging teens to begin driving, and these two factors become the major part of their driving subsequently. In other words, cars and driving has become a way of acquiring independence by teens, and has become an important value in the American society. In this regard, scrutiny of all the factors associated with teen driving resulted in one major factor that is playing the leading role in promoting reckless driving in teens and adolescents, and the factor that promotes all the other factors to present driving as a way of showing cool attitude: media. Experts (Gerdes, pp. 23-25) believe that besides parents and schooling, media has now become the third leading platform to educate young individuals of the society, and thus, media has a huge responsibility on its shoulders that seems to going off it due to commercialization and the notion of maximization of profit in the media (Liu et al, pp. 1084-1088). Unfortunately, media has been the basic accused besides parents and schools that present driving as a risk-free practice in which, an individual can do anything while performing it that results in a huge number of teenage deaths on annual basis. However, this adverse influence of American pop culture is not a new thing, and analysis of its different aspects has indicated that the American media has been enjoying a deeper relationship with teenagers since many decades. In particular, media has been representing cars as more than a necessity, and more than a tool of transportation in the form of cool and speedy advertisements showing attractive females waving at drivers with speedy cars, and speedy drivers that perform driving stunts get gorgeous models in the end (Gerdes, pp. 49-56). Although it seems a common way of advertising products, however, researchers have indicated that adolescents and teens are in the process of brain development during this period, and every little representation plays a major role in the development of thinking patterns and perceptions of young individuals. Thus, it might be a common way of advertising cool cars in the media, and an attractive strategy for adult drivers; however, it results in adverse impact on the teens that memorize such advertisements while driving their cars. During a study, majority of adolescents accepted that they have attempted a car stunt with their friends and peers at least once in their lifetime that show the extent of impact of the media on teen driving. In the media, a car is more than transportation; it is a symbol of richness, popularity, excitement, adventure, and success. In the 1920s, statistics showed beginning of car sales boom in the United States that merely turned into teen culture during 1950s, and since then, cars have become a necessity for teenagers along with their cell phones and clothing (Simons-Morton et al, pp. 101-111). In addition, movies have been another significant contributor in the increment of this issue and its transformation into a menace that is causing deaths of thousands of young lives. In films, one can observe heroes pumping and showing off their cars, and driving them in a speedy and reckless manner. At the same time, movies show heroes having cigarette, alcohol, listening to loud music, and driving recklessly that results in the provision of a perception that reckless driving is not risky. In this way, films portray that anyone can drive a car recklessly while performing different things at the same time that poses great risks for the teenage drivers that take such perception as real that is only a fantasy and work of special effects. Some of the great movies portraying reckless driving as cool and a way of impressing others are ‘Rebel without a Cause’, ‘Hot Rod Girl’, and ‘Dragstrip Girl’ (Gerdes, pp. 33-37). Interestingly, movie theaters have been promoting such reckless driving-related films by playing it at drive-in cinemas that are another platform encouraging teen driving, as well as street races during night. In the result, teen driving has now become a synonym of ‘cool’, ‘attractive’, ‘impressive’ for adolescents, and sociologists (Simons-Morton et al, pp. 101-111) believe that it is in the process of becoming a cult due to high level of excitement and enthusiasm related to it. In recent years, ‘The Fast and the Furious’ is one of the most successful movies that have promoted street racing in an extensive and influential manner. Although racing is not a bad thing, however, racing on roads poses huge threats, and statistics show that police arrests massive number of male, as well as female adolescents that participate in street racings, especially during weekends. Another phenomenon associated with teen driving is ‘red-light challenges’. Scrutiny of material has resulted in the identification of this innovative way of reckless driving in which, individuals especially teens challenge the closest driver during the pause at red lights, and in case of male adolescents, one cannot reject such a challenge as it may affect their status in front of their friends and peers (Gerdes, pp. 48-51). These red-light challenges are becoming a menace these days, and it is anticipation that they will be the highest risk factor of teen deaths in road accidents. Unfortunately, media has been the producer of this notion as a few films included such challenges where hero accepted the challenge, and took it as a challenge against his maturity and capabilities. During different studies (Sarkar & Andreas, pp. 687-700), adolescent drivers have acknowledged accepting such challenges, and for some, these experiences were thrilling while some felt themselves near to death. In the result, teen driving is not a terrible practice unless young individuals take this practice as responsible members of the society, and benefit from it in positive manner rather than using it for their pleasure, excitement, and fun that often results in deaths and injuries. Unluckily, parents (Simons-Morton et al, pp. 101-111) do not seem to take this issue in a serious manner, and adolescents get the opportunity to involve in such deadly practices late at nights. Thus, parents will have to play a definite role in monitoring their teens and preventing them from involving in reckless driving that although seems fun and exciting, but poses great risks. Besides parents, schools can be a major donor that can contribute effectively by providing effective driving education to the students and giving them awareness about adverse consequences of reckless driving. In addition, governments can make a major contribution by creating strict laws and policies for preventing teens driving. Conclusively, the paper has discussed some of the significant aspects of teens driving and its related risk factors. Moreover, the paper attempted to propose some solutions that can make a positive difference in this regard. It is an expectation that the paper will be beneficial for students, teachers, and professionals in better understanding of the topic. Works Cited Arnett, J.J. “Emerging adulthood.” American Psychologist. Volume 55, Issue 5. (2000): pp. 469-480. Gardner, M., & Steinberg, L. “Peer influence on risk taking, risk preference, and risky decision making in adolescence and adulthood.” Developmental Psychology. Volume 41, Issue 4. (2005): pp. 625-635. Gerdes, Louise I. Teen Driving. Greenhaven Press, 2008. Liu, J.Y., Mooney, D.P., et al. “Teenage driving fatalities.” Journal of Pediatric Surgery. Volume 33, Issue 7. (1998): pp. 1084-1088. Sarkar, S., and Andreas, M. “Acceptance of and engagement in risky driving behaviors by teenagers.” Adolescence. Volume 39, Issue 156. (2004): pp. 687-700. Simons-Morton, B.G., Hartos, J.L., and Beck, K.H. “Increased parent limits on teen driving.” Prevention Science. Volume 5, Issue 2. (2004): pp. 101-111. Read More