Young Drivers: Children Behind the Wheel?

Original Air Date: Tuesday, September 04, 2012

The number one killer of teenagers in North America is traffic accidents, but in Alberta drivers under 16 are involved in only five per cent of collisions causing death or injury.

In our province you can drive with a learner's permit at just 14-years old, under strict conditions in our province's graduated licensing program. Government says we're producing well-trained motorists, but some want the program strengthened.

Are kids able to handle a vehicle at 14?  How safe is Alberta’s learners' program?

Joining us for this discussion is Cathy Gladwin, a Policy Analyst with the Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research; Mike Caverhill, Manager of Provincial Operations and Compliance with Driver Programs and Licensing Standards at Alberta’s Ministry of Transportation; and Constable Jim Lebedeff with the Traffic Education Unit of the Calgary Police Service.  

http://www.studentaid.alberta.ca/