Youth feel they are invincible: Road experts

"Young drivers also have the lowest rate of seat belt usage compared to all other age groups."

'Inexperience and immaturity' are the primary reasons why there are serious dangers associated with teen driving, experts have said. 
"Untrained eyes are more likely to underestimate hazardous situations on the road. Speeding and tailgating are more likely committed by teenage drivers and, mostly, the fatal crashes that involved teen male drivers were attributed to speeding," P.M. Abdul Razak, operations manager at Emirates Driving Institute, told Khaleej Times.
"Young drivers also have the lowest rate of seat belt usage compared to all other age groups."
Razak observed that when teens drive with other young passengers, the likelihood of a crash is increased due to heightened distractions as teens tend to show off to impress their friends.
Thomas Edelmann, founder and managing director of RoadSafetyUAE, noted: "It seems that young people have the feeling of being invincible and they are more prone to taking risks.
"However, this is linked to the lack of experience, which makes it a
dangerous combination, especially on the roads."
Right age for driving
Edelmann added that statistics show the older people get, the safer they behave on roads - and this begs the question about the right minimum driving age.
"In many countries, 18 years is considered to be the right age to start driving. But in some countries, younger novice drivers are allowed. This is mandated by the respective laws of the countries.
"In the context of the UAE, if one does not fulfil the minimum age requirement to drive a car, the person must not do it."
He explained that parents, schools and peers must also recognise this requirement. 
"Parents, in particular, have to play a responsible role as, very often, vehicles of family members are taken by underage drivers, often without consent.
"Besides educating their children, parents must take precautions to avoid underage driving by safely storing car keys, locking the vehicles and garages, and so on," he added.
Parents must also not make it easy for underage children to 'just give it a try' and let them take the car for a spin.
angel@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
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