Each year, thousands of new drivers, mostly teens, start driving for the first time.
Many of these drivers may be inexperienced or uneducated about driving, leading to car crashes and accidents. 

One of the largest issues of safety on the road with younger drivers is the lack of experience. Becoming better at driving takes time and practice, which obviously, new drivers don’t have a lot of. 

“Not having enough experience can make someone nervous behind the wheel about doing something wrong and getting into an accident,” Sawyer Dinow, sophomore, said.

New drivers may also be tempted to be on their phones while on the road, which can lead to head-on collisions in seconds. It’s easy to just check your phone when at a red light or stop sign, but this can quickly escalate. In 2023, 3,275 lives were lost because of distracted drivers not paying attention to the road.

“I think one of the biggest risks on the road would be drivers on their phones or not paying attention to the road when they should be,” Bryce Kauppi, junior, said.

Another problem young drivers have is that they can be more prone to making risky or reckless decisions while driving. Having passengers in the car, especially if they’re peers, creates distractions and can cause peer pressure. Uncertainty from lack of experience and doubt in driving abilities also leads to drivers making riskier decisions on the road.

“It can be really easy to make bad decisions like speeding or running lights, or stop signs when you first start driving,” Dinow said.

Young drivers also struggle with perceiving upcoming hazards on the road. They tend to find it difficult for newer drivers to detect issues ahead, especially if they’re more hidden. These drivers also tend to focus on one aspect while not paying much mind to others.

“It definitely takes some time to be able to spot dangers in front of you on the road, like other drivers driving poorly,” Dinow said.

Driving can be very difficult, especially for those who have just gotten their learner’s license or driver’s license. 4100 drivers aged 16 to 19 were involved in fatal crashes in 2023. New drivers should practice often and get comfortable with driving so that they don’t get hurt, as well as other drivers around them.

“Some advice I would give to new drivers would be to practice driving a lot and to always be paying attention to yourself and other people around you,” Kauppi said.