Teens Driving with Friends: A Recipe for Risk
Here’s a similar piece, adjusted to reflect the tone and structure of the original:
Teens Driving with Friends: A Recipe for Risk
By [email protected] / January 24, 2025
One of the key guidelines for young drivers holding a learner’s permit or probationary license is understanding and following the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws. A significant restriction under the GDL laws is that teens are allowed only one passenger in the car, especially during their first year of driving. However, teens being teens, they sometimes push boundaries and break these rules. While it has long been known that teens are more likely to be involved in accidents when driving with peers, recent studies have shed light on why this happens.
Research conducted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm® has identified several reasons why teens choose to drive with multiple passengers and how these passengers influence driving behavior. This influence can lead to unsafe driving practices and, in severe cases, serious accidents.
“These studies give us a clearer picture of why teens may be tempted to drive with multiple friends and how those passengers contribute to crashes by distracting the driver and encouraging risky behavior, like speeding, tailgating, or ignoring traffic rules,” explained Dr. Allison Curry, director of epidemiology at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention. “With this understanding, we can create initiatives that complement Graduated Driver Licensing laws to reduce crash rates among teens.”
The findings revealed that teens who frequently drive with more than one passenger are often thrill-seekers who lack adequate parental supervision regarding driving rules. Many of these teens are also unaware of the risks and dangers associated with unsafe driving, leading them to take unnecessary chances on the road.
One study explored why teens violate the passenger limit, while a follow-up study analyzed how driving behavior changes when teens drive solo versus driving with friends. The latter study uncovered significant distractions and risky behavior tied to the presence of passengers.
“Teen drivers with peer passengers are far more likely to be distracted before a crash compared to teens driving alone,” Dr. Curry stated. “Of those distracted by something inside the vehicle, 71 percent of male drivers and 47 percent of female drivers admitted their distraction came from the actions of their passengers.”
Additionally, male teen drivers were found to be six times more likely to commit illegal maneuvers and more than twice as likely to drive aggressively when accompanied by passengers. Female teens, on the other hand, were much less likely to display aggressive driving, regardless of the number of passengers.
The study emphasizes the need for parents to have honest, consistent conversations with their teens about safe driving habits. Setting clear expectations and creating a Parent/Teen safe driving agreement can help reinforce the importance of following GDL laws and avoiding unnecessary risks.
For resources on talking to your teen about safe driving and to download a Parent/Teen safe driving contract, click here.
