The only thing I wanted for my 16th birthday was my driver's licence. My father took time off of work to drive me to what was then called the Motor License Office where I earned my learner driver's licence. It was a big day in my life, and marked a milestone in joining the world of the adult.
Looking Back from Experience
Fifty years later, I look back on that time and wonder how I made it this far. Twenty years in traffic enforcement taught me to wonder what is coming around the corner to get me today as I drive on our highways. There were many spots where I drove by and thought about the fatal collisions that I had investigated.
Using Your Driver's Licence is Risky
How risky is driving, particularly for a new driver? Car crashes are the number three killer of youth in B.C. today. The top causes are drug overdose and suicide. In 2024, 39 young people between the ages of 16 and 21 were killed in one of the 28,873 youth related crashes on B.C. highways.
ICBC publishes crash data for young drivers on it's website. This article was written in 2005 and the update today shows that these numbers represent a significant reduction from 20 years ago when crashes were the number one killer of youth.
Harm Reduction
ICBC, Autoplan Brokers, police and community groups are working together to try and reduce these figures. Road Safety Speakers and the PARTY program are attempts to increase road safety awareness among young drivers and to help them survive to become adults.
Set the Example for Your Teen
Are you concerned about what kind of driver your teen will be? If you are, set the example yourself. Driving attitudes are formed long before the age of 16 as your children take their lead from what you do behind the wheel.
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