Editorial
While driving at any age can have its dangers, new provincial statistics indicate that young drivers are particularly at risk for injury and death on Alberta highways and roads.
With less real-life driving experience than older motorists, young drivers are more than twice as likely as other drivers to find themselves hurt or killed in collisions.
In fact, since 2009, more than 200 young drivers aged 14 to 24 were killed and 13,116 were injured in collisions in West Central Alberta and elsewhere in the province.
Statistics also show that young males in particular have the highest fatal collision involvement rate in the province, with many factors at play, including relatively high instances of driving impaired, running red lights, talking on cellphones, text messaging, speeding, tailgating and overall risk taking, the province said.
And many of those injuries and fatalities have occurred on country roads and highways, making the issues surrounding youth driving particularly poignant in rural communities.
In effort to halt or even reverse the trend of young drivers ending up hurt or even killed in motor vehicle mishaps, a new provincial awareness campaign is now underway.
“The death of a young person is tragic enough, but even more so when it could have so easily been avoided. When you drive responsibly, you increase the safety of you and your passengers as well as other motorists on the road,” said Minister of Transportation Wayne Drysdale.
While this new awareness campaign is a good step and money well spent, parents and other older drivers can also play a role by making sure young drivers they know are made aware of the dangers and are given safe driving tips when appropriate.
Having already gained real-life driving experience, older drivers have much to offer younger drivers in the way of helpful advice.
Sharing good advice and keeping a watchful eye on young drivers can go a long way in helping avoid trouble before it begins.
“Driving requires all your attention. When you give it less than 100 per cent, it can have devastating consequences for you and others who share the road with you,” said Minister Drysdale.
With the busy summer driving season now getting underway, it is important that all drivers, including younger motorists, know that sharing the road means doing so safely and in a responsible fashion.
Motoring is an important part of life for residents of all ages. Hopefully this new safety campaign will help make it a safer experience for Alberta's younger drivers.
