Comparatively, Utah's children are faring well, especially when it comes to staying in school and being part of households that include two parents. But the fact that children in most other states are growing up under worse conditions doesn't necessarily mean Utah is an ideal place for youngsters.
Utah was ranked seventh among all the states by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which rates states' performance in 10 areas of child well-being. Utah dropped from a sixth-place ranking last year; it was seventh in 1995 and 1994.In one area - the percentage of families headed by a single parent - Utah ranked higher than any other state. Fourteen percent of Utah families were headed by one parent in 1994, the most recent year for this statistic. That compares with 26 percent of families nationwide.
While that number means fewer children are growing up without the full-time influence and support of a mother or father - good news for the state and its families - at least one other statistic is cause for real concern.
Utah's lowest ranking came in the area of accidental teen deaths. Due mostly to a dramatic increase in motor vehicle accidents, Utah moved 10 places in the wrong direction over two years to 28th among all the states.
That translates into a 73 percent increase in accidental deaths among youthful Utahns, a startling and worrisome trend.
The report should prompt lawmakers to rethink past proposals to provide more extensive training and supervised experience to teenagers before the state issues them driver's licenses. Currently, driver-education classes are required to provide supervision of only three hours of on-the-road driving experience.
Parents must be more involved in making sure their young drivers are well-trained and competent before turning them loose with the family car. Though the state considers teenagers qualified to drive after they pass basic driver education and written and driving tests, it's really up to parents to help them get the right kind of experience.
Setting curfews and other driving rules would help reinforce to teenagers that the first few years of driving are a learning experience. Having licenses in their pockets doesn't mean they're qualified to drive at all hours and in all situations.
Only 11 percent of drivers in Utah are teenagers, but that small number is responsible for 25 percent of all highway accidents. Obviously, there is a lack of proper training and supervision of these young drivers.