Romance with the automobile in the 20th century: implications for adolescents in a new millennium.
Nearly three-fourths of deaths among American adolescents and young adults result from only four causes: motor vehicle accidents, other unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide. Thirty percent of those deaths result from motor vehicle accidents, the number one cause of death among adolescents. A number of factors that influence the morbidity and mortality are associated with driving. Compared to other countries, it is easier for American adolescent to obtain a relatively inexpensive license and gain access to a car. For the young driver, adolescent development and increased risk taking, inexperience, dangerous driving behavior, and alcohol-related factors are of special significance. In this article, we review recent crash statistics as well as effectiveness of various preventive measures, including driver education, graduated licensing, alcohol-related measures, and vehicle-related factors. Graduated licensing and alcohol-related measures have been the most effective measures so far.
Patel
D R
DR
Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, MI 49008-1284, USA.
Greydanus
D E
DE
Rowlett
J D
JD
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000295:Adolescent Medicine; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005544:Forecasting; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology