Risk and the Novice Driver This    graph,    which    was    prepared    by    the    State    of    Victoria,    Australia,    represents    the number   of   drivers   involved   in   crashes   causing   casualties   over   a   three   year   period.      It   is clear   from   the   graph   that   when   Beginning   Drivers   are   supervised   (the   Learner   Driver phase)   there   are   few   crashes,   but   when   Novice   Drivers   are   out   on   their   own,   the   number of crashes goes up dramatically. Car   crash   statistics   reveal   that   the   three   most   common   factors   in   crashes   for   Novice Drivers are: -   inexperience    -   not   scanning   for   or   recognizing   hazards,   not   preparing   to   avoid   a dangerous situation -   reckless   driving   -   driving   too   fast   for   road   conditions,   not   wearing   seat   belts, “cruising” (driving with no particular destination), driving to impress peers -   distracted   driving    -   cell   phones,   texting,   unruly   passengers,   responding   to   peer pressure, driving while under emotional stress Safe   driving   is   like   an   athletic   skill   -   it   requires   both   physical   and   mental   training   and experience.      A   good   athlete   isn’t   just   able   to   run   or   skate   or   handle   a   ball   or   a   hockey stick,   they   are   also   able   to   read   the   game   -   anticipate   and   know   how   to   deal   with situations   as   they   unfold.      The   key   is   practice   -   lots   of   practice,   and   practice   with   an Experienced Driver to help the beginner learn how to read the game. Training   with   a   professional   driving   instructor   covers   many   of   the   skills   of   safe   driving, but   research   suggests   that   it   takes   at   least   65   hours   of   training   and   practice   before   the

Novice   Driver   is   even   close   to   ready   to   head   out   on   their   own.      Further,   Driver   Training programs   are   typically   scheduled   during   daylight   hours   and   in   reasonably   fair   weather.     Unfortunately,   real   driving   also   happens   after   dark   and   in   bad   weather   -   sometimes   in   a combination of both. The   Novice   Driver   is   only   at   the   beginning   of   their   driving   career.      Inexperience   means that   they   really   don’t   know    how   to   judge   the   effects   that   reduced   visibility   and   slippery road   conditions   have   on   the   safety   margins   that   surround   driving.      They   really   don’t understand   how   quickly   things   can   go   wrong   if   the   driver   isn’t   paying   attention   or   is showing off. The   harsh   truth   is   that   you   cannot   buy   anything   to   replace   the   safety   factor   of   an experienced   driver   who   is   driving   at   a   speed   and   in   a   manner   appropriate   to   conditions and   who   is   paying   attention   to   driving.      No   “collision   avoidance”   system   can   save   the driver   who   is   speeding   and   not   paying   attention   and   who   suddenly   hits   an   icy   patch   on   a sharp   curve.      Effective   management   of   the   Novice   Driver   by   parents   and   guardians   is   by far the best “collision avoidance” system there can ever be.