Pediatricians for Safe Driving
In the modern society, driving-related fatalities are more common than fatalities related to illnesses. Dangerous driving is common among teens and it should receive just as much attention as unprotected sex or underage drinking.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises pediatricians to have a small drivers ed talk to teenagers during their physicals. The topics discussed may be the risks of driving under the influence of medication, drugs or alcohol, general driving safety, nighttime driving and cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle.
These measures could complement the graduated drivers license program (GDL) that is currently enforced in Maryland. The graduated drivers license slowly eases teens into driving, walking them through a multi-step process of obtaining the unrestricted Maryland drivers license.
