Teen Drivers

Let me expound upon last night’s blog.  I am not an expert.  I have not studied the effects of sleep deprivation on teens.  Nor have I studied teen drivers.  But I do have four children; two well into their respective careers, one with about two years of driving experience, and one ready to embark into driver’s ed.  As I sit here in the wee hours of the morning, my two youngest have just left for school with my 17 year old behind the wheel.  It is still dark.  They entertain each other on the drive to school and sip coffee from travel mugs as they make their way.  I worry.  I always worry.  Simultaneously, word of another early morning accident involving a teen driver hits the news.  Not on the other side of the country or even a neighboring state, but right here in Wake County.  It takes my breath away – It could be mine, but it’s not, thankful the accident is not near my kids’ high school, but moved to compassion knowing two fellow moms are receiving uncertain news. 

Clearly there is a reason why the DMV requires a certain number of night time hours before students obtain a full license.  But they are still inexperienced.  Yet every day, thousands of teenagers, groggy and tired, make their way to school with the sun barely creeping up to start another day.  Visibility is low and these novice drivers navigate the streets, pressed for time, trying to make it to class before the tardy bell.  Studies conclude sleep deprivation affects drivers similarly to driving while intoxicated.  And while sleep deprivation is not the only factor, it becomes accentuated in young drivers.  Couple tiredness with darkness, or like this morning darkness and fog, creates a recipe for disaster.