Why is 16 the qualifying age for starting to drive? Historically, low age limits for licensing were linked to the needs of the rural agricultural economy for teen workers to drive farm equipment. Now 16 year olds are in the middle years of high school—grades 10 or 11—and most urban teens can walk, cycle or take public transit to school. In rural areas without public transit, there’s school bus service. Current thinking on our collective need to reduce carbon emissions—drive less—and to be more active—get more exercise—also begs the question. And even more so do teen driving statistics. Each year more than 5,000 US teens die in car crashes.

Bailey Goodman, Meredith McClure, Hannah Congdon, Sara Monnat, and Katie Shirley, five young cheerleading friends on their way in Ms Goodman’s SUV— Ms. Goodman was driving—to celebrations for their recent graduation from high school in New York state, died on June 28^th, 2007, at10 pm, in a horrendous crash. It happened on a winding two-lane highway. Bailey passed a car, and then promptly swerved back out into oncoming traffic where she drove head on into a tractor-trailer. 

According to Dr. Leonard Evans, in his 2004 book, “Traffic Safety”, a current leading reference work for road safety professionals, over 90% of the information we use to drive is visual. Of course it is. How could it be any other way? 

Performing complex skills—like driving—starts with mastering basics—like seating position and hand placement on the steering wheel. Proper seating creates the broadest field of vision, maximizes a driver’s reflex ability, and helps with staying alert and in control of the vehicle.