Intro: A world-wide health problem that also affects Norway Traffic mortality is considered a worldwide health problem. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death in youths. It is a well-documented fact that, in many countries, young males have on average three times greater involvement in fatal road crashes than young females (Twisk, D.A., & Stacey, C. (2007). p. 250). In most countries around the world, traffic accident deaths are more common among socially disadvantaged people. Norway is considered one of the richest countries, with perhaps the highest standard of health and longevity. (Wilkinson, R. and Pickett, K. (2009)) However, even within Norway there are differences between the advantaged and disadvantaged in terms …show more content…
(2011) findings concluded that lower parental education level was the strongest determinant in road traffic deaths. The researchers found that socioeconomic position played a role in the male non-collision deaths. Males had a higher mortality rate when parents had a lower education, which was not true for female mortality rates. In the study in the US on youthful driving behavior, there were similar findings as the study here in Norway. Crash rates were higher with younger aged teens and the number of passengers in the car. Although alcohol was not mentioned in Kristiansen’s study, the US study noted that the higher the alcohol in the blood, the higher the crash rates. It was also mentioned that the teens had less experience driving and drinking and driving. (Shope, J.T. (2006)) As I was reading the article, I began to question the outcomes in my own state, Maine, in the United States. According to The Spirit Level, Maine has socio-economic inequalities. Fatalities facts from the Maine government show that from 2010-2014 there were 106 fatalities in Maine involving young drivers. Many of the fatalities, 59%, involved loss of life for the young driver. An additional 25% of the fatalities were the young drivers’ passengers. Eighty-four % of the fatalities were young drivers and their passengers. An additional 16% of the fatalities were occupants of other vehicles and
Associations like MADD speak about how the higher MLDA has made the roads safer, but they refuse to admit that it is not the only reason. Before the raising of the MLDA there was a statistic recorded, “Rate of accident and fatalities in the 1980’s decreased less than that of European countries whose legal drinking ages are lower than 21,”( “Drinking Age”). Previously, before the MLDA was raised, traffic incidents relating to alcohol were very scarce; America was a safe place to drive. One factor often forgotten is that, some people are irresponsible and develop bad habits. Therefore someone will always fail to abide by the rules.
For instance, the teenage drivers involved in those
Traffic crash rates have been inversely related with the minimum legal drinking age since the 1970’s. Studies conducted since the 1980’s analyzed how the change in the MLDA affected the outcome of total traffic crashes for youth, drinking-driving convictions, single-vehicle nighttime crash fatalities, and alcohol problems among youth. The MLDA needs to be at 21, because 67% of the studies completed have concluded that there was a significant decrease in traffic crashes and crash fatalities when the drinking age was higher. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that in 1987 alone, 1,071 traffic crashes were prevented because of the MLDA of 21 (NHTSA 1989). Lower rates of death caused by vehicle crashes were found in states with higher MLDA’s throughout these various studies, and a 16% decrease in vandalism rates were observed in 4 states that raised their MLDA.
The most compelling ideas in Kate Willette’s argument is the idea of other factors other than inexperience and age that contribute to teenagers getting into car accidents. Raising the driving age may simply put teenagers at a higher risk because they would be lacking more experience and the other factors would still exist as problems. Given that the writer blames the driver’s education system for it’s outdated lessons, Willette believes that teenagers do, in fact, have the ability to take on the responsibility of driving. Since she takes the sides of teenagers, Willette does not point her fingers at the teenagers, but rather at the system because of the lack of providing proper training.
In truth, people only half accurate about alcohol causing accident where people are killed. Drunk driving is what’s killing people and older adults drink and drive. It’s as if the blame of drunk driving is only on young adults. Matt Nagin writes, “…According to M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), in 2010 the highest drunk driving rates were found amongst those ages 21 to 25 (23.4%)…” (n.pag). Older adults are drinking and driving and being irresponsible.
Alcohol seems to be an important part of daily life for many people. It's a substance associated with having fun amongst friends and family. Fortunately, certain laws help to protect us against the dangers that alcohol potentially brings upon our society. Although a section of the population argues for lowering the drinking age to 18, there have been many benefits with keeping it at 21. The main purpose of setting the Minimum Legal Drinking Age at 21 is to provide safety for the public, which should be the primary responsibility of the government.
“Every year 500,000 teens are injured in a car wreck. Every year 5,000 teens die in a car wreck meaning an average of 14 teens die a day. Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens in the U.S. Even more than alcohol and drug abuse, violence and suicide”. Teens are always excited to earn their license and drive out on the road for the first time, but not every time will be a success, it might also be their last.
In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among drivers with BAC levels of 0.08 % or higher involved in fatal crashes in 2013, one out of every 3 were between 21 and 24 years of age (33%). The next two largest groups were ages 25 to 34 (29%) and 35 to 44 (24%). (CDC, 2015) Transition: However, if you decided to get in the car and be fearless, than you will suffer the consequences by getting stopped by a police officer and get into some legal issues. III.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 1 in 10 teens in high school drink and drive. This is a lot. The CDC also states that young drivers are 17 times more likely to die in a crash when they have a blood alcohol level of .08 or above compared to when they haven’t been drinking; however, there is still some good news. Teen drinking
However, “90% of drunk driving deaths in the United States were found in the over 21 age group” (Gruenewald). For this reason, drunk driving is not directly correlated with the drinking age. In addition, the percent of drunk driving deaths in the United States has reduced at a slower rate than European countries where they have their legal drinking age at eighteen. This suggest that if lowering the drinking age was a success in Europe, it may also be effective here in the United States to diminish the amount of drunk driving deaths. This is because people that become injured due to alcohol or alcohol poisoning are afraid to report their injuries to the hospital or authorities out of fear of illegal consequences for underage drinking.
While it’s true some millennials drive like race car drivers on their way to school, the general public’s fear of young drivers tends to overshadow the dangers presented by drivers on the other end of the age spectrum. II. Credibility Statement: As a young child, I loved to ride in the car with my grandfather. However,
Everything you do in a car other than driving, such as talking to a passenger, singing a song, or checking your phone are all distractions which can take your mind off driving and cause an accident (Leonard). Having restrictions on new drivers has shown to decrease the amount of crashes caused by teenagers. “The researchers found that States with the most restrictive graduates licensing programs - such as those that required supervised driving teams as well as having night-driving restrictions and passenger limitations - saw a 26% reduction in the rate of fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers compared with states without any restriction” (Roan). Graduated licensing programs were linked to 1,348 fewer fatal crashes involving 16-year-olds. These restrictions prevent the teenagers from driving without an adult 21 or older, and with more than one passenger other than family in the car.
Introduction I. I. According to the American Automobile Association, about 8 % of teenagers drive, and are involved about 15% of fatal crashes. II. Traffic crashes is one of reason causes death and injury for young ages from 15 to 19.
Nowadays, crash rates increase as the driving age decreases. In reference to Associate Professor of Law, William and Mary School of Law, (Hamilton, 2012), studies have shown that car crashes are more prevalent among sixteen years olds. However they tend to decrease as the age rises. The more mature a person is and the more experience they’ve gone through, the less likely they are to be involved in a car crash. Basically, inexperience in driving shows a secondary part in younger ages.