The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) announced this morning (Tuesday) the launch of a new pilot program for high school students to help them recognize the aspects and consequences of dangerous driving and motivate new drivers to practice safe driving consistently. The program will operate in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot, during which students from 11th and 12th grades will visit the medical center.
The program, called “Recalculating Routes,” aims to bring about a change in attitudes among teens regarding driving. Over the next two months, the program will include research and evaluation of the effectiveness of student participation and the impact of their visits to the medical center on their ability to manage road risks.
From the NRSA: “Through a journey of self-discovery and identification of the aspects and consequences of dangerous driving, high school students will have the opportunity to express their uncertainties and conflicts as young drivers, aiming to choose safe driving.”
Lack of Experience and Inability to Read Danger Maps
The young driver population stands out in its vulnerability and involvement in accidents. It is known that driving experience is one of the main factors explaining involvement in accidents: the greater the experience, the lower the involvement in accidents.
The “Or Yarok” Association previously explained that the main reasons for young people’s vulnerability and high involvement in road accidents highlight “lack of experience and inability to read the danger maps on the road as central factors. Additionally, overconfidence, peer pressure, and extensive night driving, after drinking alcohol and with fatigue, increase the risk of involvement in road accidents and enhance the severity of injuries. Developing a comprehensive plan aimed at reducing the high involvement of young drivers in road accidents, alongside the collaboration of responsible government ministries, will inevitably lead to success and save lives.”
Or Yarok Data:
- Drivers up to age 19 are 1.6 times more involved in severe accidents compared to all drivers.
- Drivers with one year of experience were involved in severe accidents at twice the rate compared to drivers with 16 years or more of experience.
- Younger drivers tend to be involved in self accidents and front-side accidents.
- Friday is the deadliest day for young drivers.
- One in two young drivers killed is from the Arab community.
- 94% of young drivers killed are men.
- Young drivers are five times more likely to die in motorcycle and scooter accidents than their share among license holders.
- Despite the 0% alcohol law, an average of 68 young drivers are involved in road accidents each year after driving under the influence.
