Driving Stupid

Gr 7 Up—This short video examines the causes of many accidents involving young drivers. It begins with statistics about new drivers: three in 10 will have an accident in their first 12 months of driving, and car accidents are the number one cause of teen death and brain injury. In the next three segments, drunk, drowsy, and distracted driving lead to life-changing accidents. Talking on a cell phone is said to be on par with driving intoxicated, as is drowsy driving, with the risk of an accident being four times that of an unimpaired driver. Texting increases that risk to eight times. The narrator states that it is common for young drivers to underestimate the hazards of driving and overestimate their driving skills-a bad combination. A final segment introduces a StreetSafe driving program that helps young drivers learn what not to do in a car, which helps them learn what kinds of dangers they might face if they don't adjust their speed or concentrate on driving. Interviews of real people provide a good starting point for discussion in a health or driver's education class.—Ann Brownson, Eastern Illinois University