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Teens misjudge risk of injury, death from accidents, feel invincible: study

Article online since August 13rd 2008, 23:00
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TORONTO - A new Canadian study suggests most teens severely misjudge their risk of injury or death from motor vehicle accidents and see themselves as virtually invincible.

Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto say teenage drivers have the highest motor vehicle crash and fatality rate of any demographic group in Canada.

But their study found that most high school students believe their youth and agility means they can overcome poor driving conditions or the effects of alcohol or drugs while behind the wheel.

Most also believe that if they were badly hurt that doctors would be able to save their lives and return them to full health.

Lead author Najma Ahmed says teens need to understand that it is lack of judgment, not just lack of skill, that boosts the risk of injury to themselves and others.

She says injury-prevention messages should be embedded in driver-education programs to help change teenagers' attitudes and risk-taking behaviour.

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