Newly Licensed Drivers Essay

Restrictions on Newly Licensed Drivers
Restrictions on newly licensed drivers in Louisiana is a good policy because it requires supervised driving practice with a licensed adult who is at least 21 years of age for a period of time depending on a drivers age. These restrictions are used to help inexperienced drivers gain valuable driving experience and become a safe, responsible driver. Restrictions on newly licensed drivers are not only important to the drivers themselves but to others drivers, passengers, motorists, and pedestrians. “Driving is a complex skill, one that must be practiced to be learned well. Teenagers’ lack of driving experience, together with risk-taking behavior, puts them at heightened risk for crashes.” Restrictions placed on newly licensed drivers are used to gradually introduce inexperienced drivers to different driving conditions and situations such as nighttime driving, driving in rain, etc.
These restrictions allow beginners to gain knowledge and experience with supervision before obtaining a license without restrictions. It would be unfair and more importantly unsafe to put inexperienced drivers on the road without supervision. It's like any other task, it takes practice to get better at the skill.
Restrictions placed on newly licensed drivers are designed to help correct the flaws in teenage driving. Common learners permit or newly licensed drivers restrictions include but are not limited to no night time driving and limiting the number of passengers that can be in the vehicle at one time. However, the most important restriction on the drivers permit is no unsupervised driving at any time with no exceptions to this rule. As a new driver, an individual does not have the experience and skills to understand and react in a safe manner to all situations that could occur while driving. Because of this, teens are required to complete a rigorous graduated licensing program and follow restrictions placed upon their permit or license in order to drive with a licensed adult to gain experience on the road in a relatively safe driving environment. “By the time the driver license applicant receives an unrestricted drivers license, he should already have at least 40 to 50 hours of behind the wheel practice and should be able to start driving alone.” The principle policy of the restriction to have a newly licensed driver gain experience with a licensed driver is to help foster a safer environment on the road. Gaining valuable experience behind the wheel in different driving conditions helps drivers gain more confidence in their driving skills which in turn, helps to prove an individual is a safe and responsible driver.
According to the article Teen Drivers: Get the Facts published in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. Fortunately, teen motor vehicle crashes are preventable, and proven strategies can improve the safety of young drivers on the road.” Research also indicates that newly licensed teens are at a high crash risk during the first months after obtaining license. Teens are more likely to underestimate dangerous situations and not be able to recognize hazardous situations. They are more out to exhibit risky driving behavior such as speeding. Teens are at high risk of not wearing safely belts also. The combination of inexperience behind the wheel and immaturity more often results in fatal crashes among newly licensed drivers. These are just a few factors that put newly licensed drivers at risk, but often can be prevented through restrictions on newly licensed drivers. Lack of driving experience, immaturity, distracted driving and failure to react in situations on the road can have fatal consequences for both the driver and other individuals on the road. This is one of the reasons why measures are taken in each state to limit an inexperienced driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle without supervision and to also reduce the number of casualties on the road. “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15-to 20-year olds, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.” Night driving and teen passengers are also major contributing factors that increase the crash risk of young drivers. Crashes from distracted driving among teens have also increased. Distracted driving among teens is not just texting, as it consists of taking selfies, changing the music, eating and drinking, and also putting on makeup. In all reality, teens are easily distracted. Additionally, one doesn’t just have to take their eyes off the road to be distracted. Teens are more often distracted by talking to a passenger in the car. The graduated licensing program and restrictions imposed on newly licensed drivers were developed to allow teen drivers to develop a more mature driving attitude and to give them a better understanding of risks and safety beyond themselves but for others also. According to the Insurance Information Institute, “…previous studies have shown that teen crash rates decline quickly as young drivers become experienced.” Learning to driving is a complex and challenging task that requires strategic instruction and valuable behind the wheel experience in order to become a safe driver that promotes safety. They say restrictions on newly licensed drivers are not necessary to ensure safety on the road but I say restrictions on newly licensed drivers are important because it allows for inexperienced drivers to gain valuable driving experience in different conditions and situations with an adult licensed driver.
The restriction mandates that a licensed driver 21 years or older and has held a license for a minimum of 3 years accompany the driver. The person must be seated beside the driver at all times with no other occupants in the front seat. In order to prepare new drivers for challenges that they could encounter behind the wheel and in our busy world, it is important for teens to gain spend time in the driver’s seat, under the supervision of an experienced driver. This supervised and instructed driving can better prepare newly licensed drivers before they are all alone on the road. One of the most important reasons restrictions are important is to ensure the safety of all that are on the road including drivers, passengers, and
pedestrians.