Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers with 5,000 teens ages 16 to 20 dying from fatal crashes anuualy. That may not sound like much given the size of the American population, but anyone could be a part of that statistic. In a society where every life counts, raising the driving age will help save lives in the future.

Many states such as California have imposed restrictions onto teenage driving that has reduced 16 year-old deaths by 10 percent. However, motor vehicle accidents are still the leading cause of teenage deaths so the age should be until 18.

Various studies show that a teenager’s brain is not fully developed which greatly affects their ability to drive. According to a study by the National Institute of Health, the part of the brain that inhibits risky behavior is not fully developed until age 25. Risky behavior can range from driving fifteen miles per hour over the speed limit to drinking and driving.

A typical response whenever a teenager is scolded or told to do something is “I know.” However in an August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons scientists published a study that followed 262 high school students participating in a one- day injury prevention program. What the scientists found out was that teenagers did not know the real cause of teenage deaths in motor accidents and that they believed that the motor or highway problems were the major causes, not human error. The participants believed that because of their prime age and quick reflexes, they could easily steer out of any accident that came their way, but didn’t realize or acknowledge that getting out of a driving accident is more complicated that that.

States prematurely thrust young teens into life and death situations by having the driving age at 16. The magnitude of this responsibility is underscored by studies that show motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of teenage deaths. Furthermore teenagers are biologically disadvantaged when it comes to making decisions behind the wheel. The brain is not fully developed until the mid-twenties but having the driving age in the twenties would not give enough driving experience for teens, however having the driving age at 18 would. Raising the driving age two years higher will get more bad decision making teens off the streets, giving teens a higher chance at surviving behind the wheel.