Doubtless, parents of teenagers grimaced when they read the latest statistics on Utah teen drivers.
According to the Utah Department of Health Violence and Injury Prevention Program, teen drivers represented 7 percent of all licensed drivers in the state in 2005, yet they were involved in 27 percent of all motor vehicle crashes and 18 percent of all fatal crashes.
As sobering as those numbers are, consider this: Just 67 percent of Utah teens wear their seat belts, compared to 89 percent of the state's general population. Compliance in urban areas is slightly better at 73 percent but only 62 percent in rural counties. However, the health department estimates there would have been 58 percent fewer deaths between 2000 and 2004 if those teens had worn seat belts.
But the age-old problem of teaching safety to teenagers is that they foolishly believe that they are invincible. The statistics, of course, do not bear this out. Traffic accidents are the No. 1 killer of youth.
Each year, traffic accidents kill about 40 Utah teens ages 15-19. Some 330 are hospitalized for treatment of injuries sustained in car crashes. Utah hospitals treat some 5,400 teens in emergency rooms following traffic accidents.
On Sept. 13, the Utah Teen Driving Task Force will release new materials intended to enhance its awareness campaign. The task force previously produced a campaign titled "Don't Drive Stupid," which is found at www.health.utah.gov. It's valuable information.
Anyone who pays to insure a teen driver is fully aware of the high rate of traffic accidents in this segment of the population. The same is true for adult motorists who share the road with young and inexperienced drivers. Somehow teens need to get the message that they are at greater risk of being involved in traffic accidents and they need to wear their seat belts to curb the risk of serious injury or death.
As much as youths like to think they're immune from the dangers in the world, the reality is, they are quite vulnerable. Somehow, they must come to understand that their loved ones' repeated reminders to drive safely and to wear seat belts are not empty lectures, they're expressions of genuine concern and love.