Fatal Crash a Wake-Up Call for Teens, Parents & All Drivers

Last week, a  New Jersey teenager was sentenced to five-years in prison for causing a head-on  crash that claimed the life of a 61-year-old woman.  The 18-year-old had not only been drinking before he got behind the wheel, but once on the road he was talking on a cell phone and texting.  The judge, who handed down the sentence, said the teen was “driving blind.” 

The teen’s blood alcohol content (BAC) level was reported to be .067 a few hours after the crash.  While that’s below the legal limit for drivers over 21, New Jersey has a zero tolerance policy that bans the consumption of alcohol by anyone underage.   When it comes to the use of cell phones behind the wheel, New Jersey’s prohibition is clear, no use of hand-held phones or texting while driving.  (The ban is extended to hands-free devices for teens holding a graduated driver license.)  

This tragic case clearly illustrates the dangers of impaired and distracted driving, and the terrible consequences that can result when drivers engage in these unsafe behaviors.  No one -- regardless of driving experience -- should drink, use a cell phone or text while driving.  But it’s particularly problematic for teens who, even after they’re fully licensed, are still inexperienced.  Additionally, they’re brains aren’t fully developed, particularly the prefrontal cortex, where impulse inhibition, decision making and judgment are centered. 

In seeking a reduced sentence, the teen’s attorney pointed to his client’s “biological and... physical limitations” and the fact that teens “do not think on the level that adults do.”  The research clearly confirms that teen brains work differently than adults, but it’s no excuse for what happened that night last December.    

Messages about the dangers of drinking and driving and driving distracted are everywhere.  Surveys of both novice and experienced drivers find that, regardless of age, motorists view both behaviors as a threat to their safety.  But we still do it anyway.  What’s it going to take to change the social norm?

As a long-time safety advocate, leader of the New Jersey Teen Safe Driving Coalition and the mother of a teen driver, I implore all parents -- if they aren’t already doing so -- to begin a dialogue with their children about the responsibilities that come with driving.  Children start thinking about driving about the age of 13, so it’s not too early to start the conversation.  Help them understand that when you get behind the wheel, you must be 100 percent focused on driving.  And when you consume alcohol and/or use electronic devices, your ability to do that is compromised.  

Once you start the discussion, don’t stop.  While parents may think their teens are tuning them out, they really are listening.  In fact, research confirms it.  Teens with engaged parents, who set and monitor safe driving rules and practices, are less likely to drink and drive or use their cell phones when behind the wheel, and they’re more likely to refrain from other unsafe behaviors, too.

In addition to talking with our children and teens about the dangers of driving distracted and impaired, we must also be good role models.  Turn off and stow your phone before you turn the key in the ignition, don’t answer or make any calls or texts while driving, and refrain from other distracting activities like eating, drinking, smoking, or grooming.  If you drink alcohol, don’t get behind the wheel.   Instead, designate a driver, use mass transit or call cab.  Simply put, drive the way you want your children to drive.