Death does not make sense when young lives are lost. The tragic loss of six teenagers who died in a severe collision in rural Saskatchewan early Saturday is another reminder that fatalities among young drivers and passengers are far too common.
According to Transport Canada, nearly 23 per cent of motor vehicle fatalities in 2010 were 15 to 24 year olds, even though this age group makes up only 13 per cent of the Canadian population. Put another way, more than 500 young people are killed each year in road crashes in Canada and a further 40,000 are injured, many seriously.
The gut-wrenching question: How can tragedies like these be prevented?
There are many unanswered questions about the collision in Saskatchewan – how did this happen? Was the teen driver impaired by fatigue? Speeding? Distracted? Did someone run a stop sign?
Among what we do know, the six youths were piled into a compact two-door car. Such compact models have five seatbelts, at most. Even if all the seatbelts were in use, not everyone was buckled up. There were too many passengers on board. That the crash occurred at 4:30 a.m. is also a concern.
It is not realistic to keep teens off the roads altogether. Driving is more of a necessity in rural areas, where public transportation often does not exist. Further, to become experienced and safe drivers, teens need to get experience in circumstances where risks are moderated as much as possible.
Graduated licensing is part of the solution to safer teen driving, and is something that the Canada Safety Council has been encouraging for years. The regulations governing teen drivers in Saskatchewan are very much aligned with regulations elsewhere in Canada. But regulations on their own are not enough to ensure safety. Safety is an attitude that needs to be fostered long before a teen gets behind the wheel.
Saskatchewan Government Insurance, for example, does not indicate a time restriction for when teens with Class 5 licenses can be on the road. But that doesn't mean it is safe for a teen to be driving at any time of the day or night. Teens need limits, oversight and help to develop healthy attitudes toward the responsibilities that come with getting behind the wheel.
Part of it might be a lack of awareness. Many parents obtained their licences at a time when there were fewer restrictions, and they may not be aware of current restrictions that affect teen drivers. The interpretation of the rules shouldn't be left to the teens alone. Parents and guardians need to provide support and guidance and enforce limits on driving privileges for the safety of new drivers and their passengers.
Print the rules and regulations governing young drivers and post them in a highly visible location such as on your fridge. Review them often and talk about safety. Set clear expectations and limitations for your teen. Create a safe-driving contract with your teen that outlines these limits and expectations, along with appropriate consequences if the rules are broken.
There are many resources for parents, educators and teens to learn about safe driving. These include www.teensdrivesmart.ca and www.celebratemydrive.com.
Navigating the road ahead isn't always easy, but with some much needed guidance, teens can develop a safety compass. They need to understand that driving can be hazardous and that rules and restrictions exist to protect them, not to take away their freedom and mobility.
Teens also need to be mature enough to take personal responsibility for their actions. Otherwise, they shouldn't be behind the wheel.
Jack Smith is president of the Canada Safety Council