Which statement about teen driver risk is supported?

Which statement about teen driver risk is supported?

• A. Teens have no increased crash risk
• B. Teens are less prone to distraction
• C. Teens always wear seat belts more than adults
• D. They are at higher risk due to distractions and inexperience

Answer: (D)

Teen driver risk is driven by two main factors: lack of driving experience and a higher susceptibility to distractions. With less time behind the wheel, teens have fewer opportunities to learn how to recognize hazards, judge speed and distance, and choose safe responses in unpredictable situations. Distractions—such as peers in the car, mobile devices, or other in-car activities—are common for teen drivers and can pull attention away from the task of driving, increasing the chance of a crash. Taken together, these factors explain why teens are at higher risk on the road, especially early in the learning-to-drive period. That’s why the statement that they are at higher risk due to distractions and inexperience is supported. The other statements don’t fit: there is clear evidence that teens do have an increased crash risk, not none. Teens are not less prone to distraction; they are typically more susceptible to it. And while many teens do wear seat belts, it isn’t accurate to claim they always wear them more than adults, since belt use varies and isn’t guaranteed in all situations.

Teen driver risk is driven by two main factors: lack of driving experience and a higher susceptibility to distractions. With less time behind the wheel, teens have fewer opportunities to learn how to recognize hazards, judge speed and distance, and choose safe responses in unpredictable situations. Distractions—such as peers in the car, mobile devices, or other in-car activities—are common for teen drivers and can pull attention away from the task of driving, increasing the chance of a crash. Taken together, these factors explain why teens are at higher risk on the road, especially early in the learning-to-drive period. That’s why the statement that they are at higher risk due to distractions and inexperience is supported.

The other statements don’t fit: there is clear evidence that teens do have an increased crash risk, not none. Teens are not less prone to distraction; they are typically more susceptible to it. And while many teens do wear seat belts, it isn’t accurate to claim they always wear them more than adults, since belt use varies and isn’t guaranteed in all situations.