More teen drivers on the roads
Aug 15, 2025, 6:00 AM
Cars slowly move through traffic on southbound I-15 in Lehi as traffic flows more freely northbound on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Isaac Hale, Deseret News)
(Isaac Hale, Deseret News)
OGDEN — Back-to-school season smells like fresh notebooks, cafeteria pizza and, for some, the faint scent of new car air freshener. That’s because hundreds of Utah teens are hitting the road for the very first time this fall.
Teen drivers make up only 8% of Utah’s licensed drivers, but they’re involved in about 20% of all crashes statewide. The top causes? Speeding, following too closely, failing to yield and — no surprise — cell phone distractions.
For first-time drivers, heading back to school can be intimidating.
“Safety is our top priority; we’re not just about getting the driving hours here at A-1,” said President of A-1 Driving School, Mariann Wilkinson. “We really like to focus on defensive driving and making sure the kids come away with the skills they’re going to need to be safe.”
For beginners, driving safely involves a combination of understanding vehicle controls, practicing in low-risk environments and developing good driving habits.
“One of those systems that we teach is called the Smith System, and there’s five points,” Wilkinson said. “One, get the big picture, looking side to side, getting an idea of our surroundings. Two, aiming high down the road. Number three, keeping our eyes moving. Fourth one, leave yourself an out, don’t get so boxed in. And the last one is to make sure others see you.”
It’s also crucial to avoid distractions and make sure you’re prepared.
Utah’s Graduated Driver Licensing Program is built to keep new drivers safe. No driving between midnight and 5 a.m., and no friends in the car for the first six months, unless there’s a licensed adult riding shotgun. Since the program launched in 1999, teen driver fatalities in Utah have dropped by 69%.
“Give your student enough time to get to school. Don’t be rushing so fast that you have to get to school in five minutes,” Wilkinson said. “Leave early, expect the time to go through school zones and give you enough time to get into the parking lot without rushing.”
Whether your teen is driving themselves or still practicing with you in the passenger seat, those rules and that seatbelt, aren’t just suggestions — they’re life savers.
Related: Teen driver safety greatly influenced by parents says AAA survey
