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Motor accidents in teenagers linked to aspects of human nervous system, says Carmudi

By Ijeoma Opara
21 October 2015   |   11:34 pm
Research by the National Institute of Health (NIH) has shown that road traffic deaths in Africa, are predicted to rise by 80 per cent by 2020.

Road-Accident--Research by the National Institute of Health (NIH) has shown that road traffic deaths in Africa, are predicted to rise by 80 per cent by 2020. New facts emerging show that the rise in the number may be linked to the physiological status of new drivers. This can be a source of concern for parents who have teenage drivers.

Ultimately a parent should be concerned about allowing their teenagers drive. In Nigeria speed induced road traffic crashes accounted for 50.8 per cent of reported road traffic crashes.
Teen drivers are often involved in fatal crashes. In fact, the rate of fatal crashes for less than 18-year olds per mile nearly doubles when compared to drivers aged 18 and 19, and is three times higher than the rate for drivers over twenty.

With these insights parents should be concerned and ultimately ask the question: should we really trust our children to drive?

An online car mart, Carmudi examined accident data and the neuroscience behind teen brain development to answer the question of whether teens should be allowed to drive in Nigeria.

When it comes to reckless driving and teenagers, it isn’t a case of not knowing any better. Research by NIH has shown that the part of the human brain that weighs risks and controls impulsive behaviour isn’t fully developed until about age 25.

The nucleus accumbens, which registers pleasure, grows from childhood, reaching the maximum extent in the teenage brain, and then begins to shrink.

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