Driving is a risk we face daily.

We increase our chances of being in car accidents when we talk on cell phones, eat food or listen to the radio.

Every day we risk being in one of the 37,000 fatal car accidents each year.

Yet we continue to drive.

Because of the risk associated with driving, we need to be confident that young drivers are ready when they climb into their first car at the tender age of 16.

Some 16-year-olds are responsible and obey the laws. But others don’t.

For some teenagers, a driver’s license is the first step into a world of independence. Finally, the teenager can drive places. No longer do they have to depend on their parents or older siblings.

At age 16, teenagers are too young to think about the dangers.

In 1999, motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of death for 15 to 20-year-olds according to the National Center for Health Statistics. At that time some states, including Iowa, decided there needed to be stricter licenses for beginning drivers.

Iowa is one of 44 states to issue a restricted driver’s license to 16-year-olds, instead of a full license. Under this limited license, the young driver isn’t allowed to drive between certain hours. Since accidents are more likely to happen at night than during the daylight; this is a simple request.

Plus if the new driver is careless enough to get an accident during their year-long trial period, a judge can order the driver to have the restricted license until he or she is 18- years-old.

Young drivers were behind the wheel in 15 percent of all fatal accidents in 1999.

So prevention measures, like the restricted license, will help lower the number of accidents on every highway and road in the state.

It will help save lives and it will help teenagers learn about the responsibility of driving, one mile at a time.

editorialboard: Michelle Kann, Tim Paluch, Jocelyn Marcus, Zach Calef, Ruth Hitchcock, Cavan Reagan