Driver's Video in the News!

New drivers are at greater risk of having a car accident. Their inexperience and their lack of awareness about the rules of the road often combine to put them in a deadly situation. Now, a new Canadian video is hoping to make the combination less lethal -- before new drivers even get their licences.

Rick Sims, owner of Travel Video Productions in St. George, Ont., has produced a 25-minute video, Passing the Driver's Test, that helps put learners at ease and familiarize them with driving regulations. "The video takes you step by step through an on-road driver's exam, all the while feeding you the general rules of the road," Mr. Sims says.

The video, which has been sold throughout North America, reviews rules and approaches common to drivers across the continent and often around the world. Coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, for example, is emphasized in the video and is a rule most experienced drivers know well. Many other rules, however, such as who goes first at a four-way stop if two cars enter at the same time, prove trickier for new and experienced drivers alike. A survey conducted recently by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation found 64% of all drivers tested entered the wrong lane when turning left from a one-way to a two-way street.

The video attempts to address the two most common problems faced by want-to-be drivers: lack of information and nervousness. "We wanted [viewers] to have the knowledge to pass the test, but also be able to go through the test several times on tape to reduce anxiety. Knowing what to expect helps you to relax," Mr. Sims says.

Knowing what to expect may also make for better drivers once beginners hit the road. The statistics are not encouraging. One in four teenagers will have an accident in his first year of driving. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death in people aged 16 to 20 and account for roughly one-third of all fatalities in this age group. Young people also have the highest traffic-related fatality rate of any age group. While they make up only about 6% of drivers in North America and account for only 3% of all kilometres per driver, young people are involved in approximately 15% of all traffic deaths. Bottom line: A 16-year-old driver is 20 times more likely to have a traffic accident than the general population.

Mr. Sims knows first-hand what it is like to be young, in a car with friends and, in a split second, be in a serious car accident. That memory, in conjunction with a series of newspaper articles he read on young drivers, lead him to produce Passing the Driver's Test. "We really need to be educating our drivers. It's a scary place out there," he says.

One of the main reasons new drivers are at greater risk of an accident is their inexperience. They have not driven in snow, tried to see through fog or had a toddler step suddenly off the sidewalk in front of them. Moreover, in young drivers, inexperience is often mixed with bravado, which can prove to be a deadly combination. Other reasons include excessive speed and the use of drugs and alcohol. But there are other factors that play a role in accidents involving young people.

Choice of vehicle is one of those factors. Because most young people have less money than most adults, their choice of a car is usually an older model that may have fewer safety features and may not be in the best of shape.

Another problem is too many passengers. In a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in Maryland, researchers discovered the risk of deadly accidents among young drivers rose sharply with each additional passenger.

The researchers found a 16-year-old with three or more passengers faces nearly three times the risk of a fatal wreck as one driving alone. So serious is this correlation several U.S. states have instituted passenger limits for young drivers.

Helping young drivers become comfortable with the road and the rules of the road before they have their licence may help reduce the number of accidents. Joining the video version of Passing the Driver's Test is a DVD and CD that includes interactive written tests to increase knowledge and awareness.

© Copyright 2002 National Post