Most Dangerous Year of a Teen's Life

by: Sydney Lee '15

The first year a teen starts driving is claimed to be the most dangerous year of his life, but can this be proven true? Car accidents are the leading cause of death in America.In 2010, an estimated 5.5 million car accidents occurred, and it is claimed that in the United States, 65 tickets are handed out per minute.             

Ten people were surveyed, all between the ages of seventeen to fifty-six. Eight of the respondents surveyed have gotten into accidents within the first two years of having their license. Of the eight, half admit it was their fault. And of those eight, five were females. Of the five respondents who were between the ages of eighteen and thirty, three got into accidents and two did not. Three out of the five males surveyed got into accidents. When asked about moving violations and tickets, three out of five males and females received them at least once.

Seventeen year olds were asked if they have ever been in a car accident within the first year of driving. Recent surveys suggest that one hundred percent admitted they have.  Can the claim that the first year a teen begins driving is their most dangerous be claimed true? The surveys prove that it is.