Pennsylvania passed a measure one year ago that placed restrictions on how many passengers teen drivers can ferry around. Recent research supports this move, as a study sponsored by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has determined that risky behaviors which leads to car accidents is more prevalent in teen drivers who host increasing numbers of passengers in their vehicles.

In particular, risky behavior among novice 16- and 17-year-old motorists was proven to increase as the number of teenage passengers in the driver's vehicle grew. For example, potentially fatal speeding and aggressive driving behavior among this age group grows from a baseline of 30 percent sans passengers to 44 percent when two teen passengers are present and nearly 50 percent when more than two teen passengers are in the driver's car.

In addition, the prevalence of late-night driving and driving while under the influence grows with the presence of additional teen passengers as well. These frightening statistics reinforce the necessity of both state laws and parental rules which restrict the number of teen passengers novice drivers can host.

Between the years of 2005 and 2010 alone, more than a third of the 9,578 16- and 17- year old drivers involved in fatal crashes in the U.S. were carrying a minimum of one teenage passenger during impact. Many of those passengers were either injured or killed. Allowing novice teen drivers to host teenage passengers is thus dangerous both for the teen driver and the teen passenger(s).

Driving around town with friends is a right of passage for teens. But until new drivers gain experience, the act of driving should be done without the presence of teenage passengers whenever possible.

Source: Montgomery Media, "Risky behaviors by teen drivers increase with more passengers in car," Carl Hessler Jr., Oct. 20, 2012