cognitive development in adolescence short discussion post

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A great deal of current research focuses on understanding adolescent cognitive development and driving behaviors. Teenagers, ages 16 to 19, have the highest vehicle accident rates of any age group (State of California, Department of Motor Vehicles, 2011), and car crashes are the leading cause of adolescent deaths (CDC, 2010).

For this discussion, respond to the following prompts:

  • What are some sociocultural and cognitive factors, besides lack of skill, that may play a role in teenagers’ risk-taking while driving? Be sure to read the articles before responding.
  • What factors contribute to an adolescent’s readiness to drive?
  • What are your recommendations, based on what you have learned (and your own observations), for an age when teenagers should be legally allowed to drive?

Support your statements and recommendations with concepts from developmental theory and information from scholarly or other professional sources.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Fatal teen crashes: The reality.
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/MotorVehicleSafety/Teen_Drivers…

State of California, Department of Motor Vehicles. (2011). Teenage drive crash statistics.

Retrieved from http://www.dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/more_btn6/traffic/