The other day, I was driving down Bundy Drive ““ a two-way
street with one lane designated to each direction ““ when I
suddenly heard the distinctive voice of Eminem zoom past me. Low
and behold, it wasn’t Eminem himself, but his music blaring
from the speakers of a driver who had sped around me by driving
into the oncoming traffic lane. Sure enough, when we were both
stopped at the same red light moments later, my thought that he
must be a teenage boy not a day older than 16 was confirmed. He
pulled down his window, turned down his music, and said,
“Sorry to cut you off, I’m in a rush.” In a rush?
To do what, save the world?
I desperately tried to get out the words, to explain to him
it’s not worth it, but there was no point, because by the
time I managed to stutter a few words, the light turned green and
he was off, just another blurred car blasting Eminem.
This episode was not the first time I noticed reckless teenage
driving. Every day I am exposed to countless examples that have
reinforced my belief that the minimum driving age in California of
16 is too young.
My concerns regarding the low driving age in California assumed
a new significance in my life this past winter when my 16-year-old
cousin lost control of his car while driving down Sunset Boulevard
with his friends. He ended up being involved in a five-car
collision in which his passenger, a 16-year-old girl, suffered
serious injuries. Although my cousin was not speeding or driving
recklessly, I can’t help but wonder if his lack of maturity
and experience at age 16 is what caused the accident. If he had
been more experienced and more mature, could he have handled the
situation better? I will never know for sure, but I believe he
would have.
I cringe at the thought that my other cousins and their
soon-to-be 16-year-old friends are quickly approaching the day they
can drive. It is not just my own experiences that make me worry
about teenage drivers. The statistics are inescapable.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
teenagers are at a higher risk of getting in a car accident than
any other age group. Based on the number of miles driven, teenagers
are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all drivers.
In addition, teenage drivers are inexperienced, engage in more
risk-taking behavior and are at greater risk exposure, according to
the administration’s Web site. Teens also often drive at
night with other teens in the car. Two out of three teens who die
as passengers are in vehicles driven by other teens.
In January 1998, California adopted a graduated driver licensing
program, which required drivers under 18 to spend at least 50 hours
behind the wheel with a parent in order to get a provisional
license. Once they earn this license, teens can’t drive with
passengers under the age of 20 for the first six months unless
accompanied by a licensed driver who is 25 or older, nor can they
drive alone between 12 and 5 a.m. Although there have been
improvements, such as drops in alcohol-related fatalities among
teenagers between 1982 to 1997, the changes made are not
sufficient.
In 2000, the number of crashes related to alcohol shot back up.
According to Teen Driver Safety Series, in 2001, 5,341 teens were
killed in passenger vehicles involved in car crashes.
The motivations behind the current driving age are clear. In a
city as expansive as Los Angeles, transportation is often a
problem. This issue is relevant throughout California, a state that
lacks the developed transportation infrastructure enjoyed by cities
such as New York and Chicago. Ultimately, we are faced with a
question of responsibility. Does California want to remain liable
for allowing young people to drive at an age that statistically can
be proven as dangerous? The teenager that sped by me on Bundy Drive
had no fear. His recklessness expressed his self-perception of
being infallible. Unfortunately, the statistics shatter this image.
It is long past due for California to recognize and take
responsibility for this reality.
Cohanzad is a fourth-year communication studies
student.