When it comes to driver safety, young drivers have always presented law enforcement with unique challenges on the road. But given the new level of distractions in the world, and the appeal those distractions have for teens in particular, it may seem a given that the roads are even more dangerous today when it comes to novice drivers.
Gen Z represents the first generation to have “grown up” with smart technologies, so one might assume that Gen Z drivers are the most plagued by distraction, especially as digital tech expands in society. Are Gen Z drivers truly more dangerous than their predecessors were at their age, or are the risks simply evolving?
The Safety Challenges of Young Drivers
Historically, drivers in their teens and early twenties have been overrepresented in crash statistics. Their lack of experience, combined with risk-taking behaviors and distractions, makes them one of the most vulnerable populations on the road. However, Gen Z drivers (born roughly between 1997 and 2012) are facing a different driving landscape than that experienced by young drivers of previous generations.
Traditional Problems Still Exist
Young drivers continue to struggle with age-old problems:
- Inexperience behind the wheel
- Risk-taking behaviors like speeding and aggressive driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Peer pressure and showing off in front of friends
These factors have plagued new drivers for generations, but Gen Z has a few new dangers added to the mix.
New Tech Distractions
Gen Z drivers were practically raised with smartphones and an always-connected lifestyle. Distracted driving related to texting, social media scrolling, and streaming video content while driving is a far greater problem among Gen Z than it was with even Millennials.
Apps like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram have created dangerous incentives to capture moments while driving, leading to risky behaviors and distraction-based crashes.
Signs of Progress: Teen Fatalities Are Down
Interestingly, despite these new distractions, teen driver fatalities have decreased over the last decade. According to a recent insurance industry report, there has been a notable decrease in fatal crash involvement among young drivers (ages 15 to 20) over the past 30 years.
Several factors are likely to have contributed to this trend:
Stricter GDL Laws – Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs have become stricter in many states. These laws limit nighttime driving, restrict passengers, and require longer periods of supervised driving, helping teens gain experience before taking full control.
Safer Vehicles – Vehicles today are built with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot detection—tools that help offset some of the inexperience of young drivers.
Fewer Teens Driving – According to recent reports, fewer teens are driving these days for a number of reasons, including the pandemic. While anxiety has kept many from pursuing a license, remote learning and parents working from home have lessened the need for teens to drive. The rising costs involved with driving also come into play.
Higher Insurance Costs – Sky-high insurance rates for young drivers have also kept some Gen Z drivers off the road or limited their driving exposure.
What Can Law Enforcement Do to Address Novice Driver Challenges?
Whether dealing with Millennials, Gen Z, or future generations, law enforcement plays a crucial role in protecting young drivers and the public. Here are key actions agencies can take:
1. Education and Outreach in Schools
Partnering with area high schools to provide presentations about the realities and consequences of unsafe driving can have a significant impact. Programs focusing on distracted driving, impaired driving, and speeding resonate when delivered by real officers sharing real stories.
2. Community Speed Awareness Tools
Deploying RADAR speed displays and speed trailers in neighborhoods and near schools can help drivers—especially young ones—become more aware of their speed and adjust accordingly.
3. Data-Driven Enforcement
Tracking and recording traffic violations such as speeding, reckless driving, and distracted driving behavior can help law enforcement better understand when and where to focus resources.
Tools to Promote Safe Driving Practices
Kustom Signals provides law enforcement with advanced tools to help encourage safer driving and enforce traffic laws, not only among young and inexperienced drivers, but everyone on the road.
LaserCam 4
Our LaserCam 4 is ideal for catching behavior-based violations such as inattentive driving, cell phone use while driving, failure to wear a seatbelt, and other dangerous habits teens have while driving. LaserCam 4 combines the speed and accuracy of the ProLaser 4 with a powerful zoom camera for capturing illegal activity for clear, court admissible evidence. Our patented AutoTrak technology will automatically zoom video on the tracked target for better quality evidence.
Additional Kustom Signals law enforcement tools include:
- Handheld and In-Car RADAR: Reliable, easy-to-use speed enforcement to catch and deter speeding drivers.
- RADAR Speed Displays and Speed Trailers: Visible, immediate speed feedback that encourages drivers to slow down without requiring officer interaction. Perfect for deployment near schools and teen hotspots.
- Traffic Data Collection: Plays a key role in helping officers to identify problematic areas where additional enforcement strategies may be needed.
Kustom Signals Assists Police with Solutions that Make Roads Safer for New and Experienced Drivers
While young drivers face a host of challenges in a high-tech world, law enforcement must find ways to keep motorists of all ages from falling prey to all distractions and temptations – old and new. By combining education, community engagement, data-driven enforcement, and advanced technology tools like those from Kustom Signals, law enforcement professionals can make a meaningful difference in keeping everyone on the road safe.
Looking for solutions to support your department’s traffic enforcement efforts? Explore Kustom Signals’ full range of RADAR, Laser, and speed awareness tools designed to help reduce dangerous driving behaviors in your community. Request a quote to learn how we can assist your agency.