Guest Column — Hot Topics

What is the No. 1 killer of teenagers?

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Pardon the shocking title, but it is the reality. Do you know what the number one killer of teenagers in the United States is? More youth and teen deaths are caused by automobile crashes than homicides and drug/alcohol abuse combined.

Most of these tragic deaths are the result of inexperience or distractions.

Seventy-five percent of teen fatal crashes do not have anything to do with drugs or alcohol, these events involved reckless or distracted driving. Combine those habits with inexperience, and it creates a lethal situation.

Texting, applying lip balm, or eating are behaviors that can become sinister when chosen to do behind the wheel of a car. Did you know that almost 4,000 teens lose their lives every year in car crashes, and 2/3 of these deaths are passengers? Almost 400,000 teens are seriously injured every year in auto crashes. We hear about it on the news, and some of us have experienced it firsthand: car crashes claiming the lives of young people.  

Many times we think it could never happen to us or to someone we know until it’s too late.  First, we should stop calling them accidents, because they are mostly not caused by involuntary, inevitable mistakes. Teens are more likely to die in a car crash than any other way. The truth is that teens are as powerful as they are vulnerable, because most of these crashes involve voluntary choices. They have the power to make the choices that will keep them alive.

A program that I am now credentialed to teach is called “Impact Teen Drivers” and it aims to reduce these preventable deaths by raising awareness and providing education about the dangers of distracted driving and inexperienced decision making. It focuses on connecting with young people, parents, and educators on a common level.  

The materials do not include graphic or gory details. Research has shown that connecting with teens on a visceral level makes a stronger long‐term attitude and behavior change. We want people to recognize the importance of focusing on their safety when in a vehicle, whether as a driver or passenger.

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