Teen Driving Safety: Why Basic Driver’s Ed Isn’t Enough

Teenagers aren't idiots - they're just inexperienced and poorly trained for today's roads.

On a sunny Saturday morning in Charlotte, six lives were lost in seconds. No speeding. No drinking. Just one inexperienced teenage driver behind the wheel of a Honda CR-V trying to merge on I-485... and it all went horribly wrong.

This wasn’t just another tragic headline. It was a brutal reminder of how dangerous our roads are, especially for young drivers. And frankly, how miserably we’re failing them.

Let’s talk about the teen driving crisis in America - and how adults aren’t exactly setting the best example either.

Teen Driving Isn’t Just Risky - It’s Deadly

Motor vehicle crashes are still the number one cause of death for teenagers in the U.S. In 2023 alone, over 3,000 teens between 13 and 19 died in car crashes. Nearly a quarter of a million more were injured.

That’s eight teen deaths every single day.

And teens aren’t just putting themselves at risk. They’re involved in 12% of all police-reported crashes and 8% of fatal ones, despite making up only 5% of licensed drivers. They're drastically overrepresented in the worst kinds of traffic stats.

The reason? It’s not because teens are bad people or trying to cause chaos. It’s because they’re new. Inexperienced. Thrown into traffic without the skills they need to survive, much less succeed.

Driver’s Ed Is Failing Our Kids

Most U.S. driver education programs are built to teach kids how to pass a test - not how to avoid a crash. They cover road signs, basic rules, and maybe some three-point turns in a parking lot.

But car control? Emergency maneuvering? How to drive in rain, snow, or when a deer leaps out of nowhere? Not so much.

The result: teens get handed a license and tossed into rush hour with barely enough training to navigate a drive-thru.

Learning to Drive Is More Than Passing a Test

I was lucky. I learned to drive from my dad who also taught me car control, physics, and how to spin donuts in a snow-covered parking lot after figure skating practice.

We trained in Wisconsin winters, using the icy pavement to simulate real-world conditions at low speeds. That meant I learned what it felt like to lose traction and how to recover. On purpose. Think of it as driving in slow motion so you can actually think before reacting.

He also taught me “anticipatory driving.” Not just reacting to the car in front of you but scanning far ahead and staying hyper-aware of your surroundings. Looking for the brake lights two intersections up. Watching that light that’s been green a little too long. Planning your next move before you need it.

He taught me to always have an exit plan - what we call “your out” in racing. If something goes wrong in front of you, where can you put the car to avoid impact? Because eventually, something will go wrong. It always does.

Race Car Lessons That Save Lives

I later took those lessons to the racetrack. And let me tell you, going wheel-to-wheel with 100 duct-taped race cars for 24 hours teaches you real quick how to avoid panic. You learn to feel the limit of traction, what oversteer and understeer really mean, and how to recover when a wheel literally flies off mid-turn (yes, that happened).

The key lesson? Don't panic. Breathe. Learn to make the right decision, not the instinctual one, because physics doesn’t care how scared you are.

A Real-World Example: Braking Mid-Turn = Bad Idea

One of the most common mistakes drivers make, especially new ones, is hitting the brakes in the middle of a turn.

I once had a friend do just that. We were cruising on a curvy road, she carried too much speed into a bend, panicked, and hit the brakes mid-turn. The weight shifted hard to the front-right tire, traction was lost, and we spun out into a ditch. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Except maybe our egos. And our underwear.

But that’s the kind of panic reaction that leads to crashes. And it’s completely avoidable with the right training.

Advanced Driver Training: Not Just for Racers

These car control skills aren’t just for wannabe racecar drivers. They save lives in real-world situations. And they’re skills that most adults don’t have.

So how can we expect our kids to know how to handle a skid, a hydroplane, or a sudden lane change when a truck drops its load in front of them? They can’t - unless we teach them.

And sadly, most schools don't. Which is why I recommend Teen Driving Solutions School. This isn’t a sponsor shoutout. They didn’t pay me to say this. I’ve seen firsthand what they do, and it's literally life-saving.

This North Carolina-based program puts teens behind the wheel on a closed course for two full days. They teach emergency braking, evasive maneuvers, skid recovery, and how to stay calm under pressure. It’s run by professional drivers, including one who lost his own child to a crash. They know what’s at stake.

And unlike most programs, this one includes the psychology side, too - designed with input from psychiatrists who understand how teen brains work (or don’t, thanks to that not-yet-finished frontal lobe).

If you can afford it (or if friends and family want to chip in for a 16th birthday present) send your teen to a course like this. It's way better than a new phone.

Adults, You’re Not Off the Hook Either

Let’s be honest. We adults aren’t exactly role models behind the wheel. We tailgate. We drive too fast, especially in the rain. We scream at other drivers like they can hear us. And we’re addicted to our phones.

Yes, I’m talking to you. And yes, I’m guilty too. I’ve got a lead foot and the patience of a caffeinated squirrel. But I know better. And I check myself, because I know someone might be watching.

Kids are in the backseat soaking it all up from day one. If you want your kid to be a safe driver, start by modeling the behavior you want them to learn.

✅ Use your turn signals (the come free with the car).

✅ Keep your phone out of your hand (or turned off entirely).

✅ Leave a proper following distance (especially in the rain). ✅ Watch your speed, especially around curves.

✅ Drive like the people around you don’t know what they’re doing - because many of them don’t.

Final Thoughts: We Have to Do Better

We owe it to our kids, and to each other, to be better drivers.

Getting a license doesn’t mean a teen is ready for the real world of traffic, distractions, and high-stakes decisions. They need real training. We all do. And while we can’t undo tragedies like the one in Charlotte, we can work to prevent the next one.

So parents, aunts, uncles, mentors - if you’ve got a teen who’s learning to drive, go beyond the DMV. Find a program that teaches them what to do when it all goes sideways. And if you’re behind the wheel yourself, maybe refresh a few of those skills.

Because whether you’re 16 or 60, the rules of physics still apply. And the price for getting it wrong is far too high. Drive safe. Drive smart. And drive like your life depends on it - because it does.

🎧 Want the full story? Listen to the related episode of The Straight Shift podcast for real talk, personal stories, and the rant that started it all. Click here to listen.

👉 Want your teen to actually learn how to drive, not just pass the test? Check out Teen Driving Solutions School and give them the skills that could save their life.