Introduction to Psychology 10th Edition by Rod Plotnik,Haig Kouyoumdjian

Exercise 1

Are Teens Too Young to Drive?
Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death and disability for teens, killing more than 5,000 a year and injuring 300,000 more. Teenage drivers are about four times more likely to crash than older drivers and three times more likely to die in a crash. The risk of crashes is highest for 16-year-olds; one in five will have a car crash within the first year of driving. The possibility of raising the legal driving age has been receiving increasing attention. Proponents argue that teens are too immature to handle the responsibility of driving. In fact, a recent national survey found that nearly two-thirds (61%) of people believe that a 16-year-old is too young to have a driver's license, and more than half (53%) think teens should be at least 18 to obtain a driver's license. Opponents of raising the legal driving age argue that responsible teen drivers should not be punished for the mistakes of careless teens causing accidents. The opinion of the majority of Americans about teens being too young to drive is supported by scientific findings. Brain researchers report that the "executive branch" of the teen brain-the part that considers risks and consequences, makes judgments, and controls impulsive behavior-is not fully developed until age 25 and is far less developed in 16-year-olds than in older teens. The danger involved with drivers who do not yet have a fully developed executive branch is evident in the three most common teenage driving mistakes that lead to crashes: failing to scan the road ahead, misjudging driving conditions, and becoming distracted. Planning, following rules, and paying attention are all functions of the executive branch. A contributing factor to teens' poor judgment is that they don't understand that well-established risky driving behaviors are dangerous. For instance, only 28% of teens reported using a cell phone is a risk; only 10% said having other teens in the car is a distraction while driving; and only 50% reported not wearing a seat belt or speeding is dangerous. All these things place drivers in serious risk of harm. Several states have imposed a graduated driver's license program, which phases in driving privileges, such as driving late at night and having multiple passengers in their car, for beginning drivers as they gain experience. These restrictive programs could save the lives of as many as 2,000 teenagers each year. But, how far should lawmakers go to reduce the dangers of teen drivers? Jeffrey Runge, an emergency room doctor, has treated many teen crash victims and makes it clear that lawmakers should take the dangers of teenage drivers very seriously: "If we had any other disease that was wiping out our teenagers at the rate of thousands per year, there would be no end to what we would do as a society to stop that" (Stafford, 2005).
Question
What other irresponsible teen behaviors may be a result of an "executive branch" that is not yet fully developed?