Sample Persuasive Speech

Summary

The speaker recounts a tragic car accident involving a 16-year-old driver and his friends, resulting in deaths and life-altering injuries. Using this story, the speaker highlights the dangers of teenage driving, citing statistics and research showing the high rate of accidents among young drivers due to inexperience, brain development, and risk-taking behavior. The speaker proposes raising the driving age to 18, restricting nighttime driving, and limiting passengers for young drivers as effective ways to reduce fatalities and improve road safety.

Takeaways

• 🚗 The story begins with a tragic car accident involving four teenagers returning from a concert, resulting in the deaths of two, including the driver.
• 📉 Teenage drivers, although making up only 7% of licensed drivers, account for 14% of motor vehicle fatalities in the U.S.
• 🧠 Research shows that the brain of an average 16-year-old is not fully developed to effectively assess risks, contributing to reckless driving behavior.
• ⚠️ 16-year-olds are three times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes compared to older drivers, with speeding and driver error being common causes.
• 🌙 Night driving significantly increases the risk of accidents for inexperienced teenage drivers, especially after dark.
• 👥 The presence of teenage passengers in the car increases the likelihood of accidents. One passenger doubles the risk, while multiple passengers increase it fivefold.
• 🕰️ The speaker suggests raising the age for full driving privileges to 18 to allow for better brain development and more driving experience.
• 🌃 Restricting night driving for teenagers until age 18, with curfews around 9-10 p.m., is recommended to reduce accidents.
• 👫 Limiting the number of teenage passengers in cars driven by young drivers is suggested to reduce distractions and accidents.
• 🏫 The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of stricter driving laws for teenagers to prevent accidents and save lives, sharing the personal impact of the tragedy on his nephew.

Q & A

What was the cause of the accident involving the speaker's nephew?

The accident was caused by the 16-year-old driver losing control of the car while driving too fast.

How did the speaker's nephew's life change after the accident?

The speaker's nephew is now finishing high school in a wheelchair, which he will occupy for the rest of his life.

What percentage of licensed drivers are teenagers, according to the script?

Teenagers make up 7% of the nation's licensed drivers.

What percentage of all motor vehicle fatalities are attributed to teenagers?

Teenagers represent 14% of all motor vehicle fatalities.

How many drivers aged 16 to 20 were killed in automobile accidents the previous year according to the script?

3,657 drivers aged 16 to 20 were killed in automobile accidents.

What is one of the major causes of problems associated with teenage driving mentioned in the script?

One of the major causes is inexperience, as new drivers haven't had enough time on the road to develop their driving skills.

What does brain research from the National Institute of Mental Health reveal about teenage drivers?

The brain of an average 16-year-old has not developed enough to effectively judge the risk of a given situation.

According to the Washington Post, when does the likelihood of having an accident increase for 16-year-olds?

The likelihood of having an accident increases several times over when 16-year-olds drive after dark.

What is the impact of teenage passengers in the car on the risk of a fatal crash?

One teenage passenger doubles the risk of a fatal crash, and with two or more passengers, the risk is five times greater.

What is the first step the speaker suggests in creating a national policy to reduce teenage driving accidents?

The first step is to ensure no one can receive a learner's permit until age 16 and full driving privileges until age 18.

What is the optimal policy for passenger restrictions suggested by Kevin Quinland from the National Transportation Safety Board?

The optimal policy would be to bar drivers aged 17 or younger from having any passengers in the car unless the riders are adults or family members. Drivers from the age of 17 to 18 should not be allowed to carry more than one teenage passenger.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 The Tragedy of Teenage Driving Accidents

The paragraph recounts a tragic accident involving a Ford Explorer with teenage passengers, highlighting the commonality of such incidents. It emphasizes the importance of addressing the issue of teenage driving safety. The narrator shares personal experience with a nephew injured in a similar accident, advocating for raising the driving age to 18. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are cited, showing teenagers' disproportionate involvement in fatal accidents. The paragraph also discusses the higher risk associated with younger drivers, as reported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and the role of inexperience and immature brain development in causing accidents.

05:01

🌙 Addressing the Causes of Teen Driving Fatalities

This paragraph delves into specific causes of teenage driving fatalities, such as night driving and the presence of teenage passengers, which increase the risk of accidents. It suggests policy changes, including raising the learner's permit age to 16 and full driving privileges to 18, restricting nighttime driving, and limiting the number of teenage passengers. The paragraph cites research and expert opinions to support these recommendations, emphasizing the potential for saving lives. It concludes with a poignant reminder of the human cost of not acting, using the narrator's nephew's story to underscore the urgency of implementing these measures.

Keywords

💡Teenage driving accidents

This refers to the high number of vehicle accidents involving young drivers, typically aged 16 to 20. The video focuses on the tragic consequences of teenage driving, citing specific data on fatalities. For example, the script mentions how teenagers account for 14% of all motor vehicle fatalities, despite making up only 7% of licensed drivers, illustrating the significant risks associated with inexperienced drivers.

💡Inexperience

Inexperience is one of the leading causes of accidents among teenage drivers, as new drivers lack the time on the road to develop safe driving habits. The script points out that new drivers, especially 16-year-olds, are more prone to errors in judgment and vehicle control, increasing the likelihood of crashes.

💡Brain development

Brain development refers to the fact that the cognitive abilities of 16-year-olds are still maturing. The script cites research showing that the brain of a typical 16-year-old has not developed enough to effectively assess risks, leading to poor decision-making behind the wheel. This lack of development contributes to accidents, as young drivers struggle with impulse control and risk evaluation.

💡Speeding

Speeding is highlighted as a major factor in teenage driving accidents. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that 16-year-olds have the highest percentage of crashes involving speeding. This tendency to drive too fast, combined with inexperience and poor judgment, increases the risk of fatal accidents.

💡Night driving

Night driving poses additional risks for young drivers. The script mentions that nighttime driving becomes especially dangerous when combined with teenage inexperience. Many accidents involving teenage drivers occur at night, and several states have attempted to restrict teenage driving after certain hours to reduce the likelihood of crashes.

💡Passenger distractions

Passenger distractions refer to the increased risk of accidents when teenage drivers have other teens in the car. The video explains that teenage passengers create a more dangerous environment by distracting the driver. Studies show that the presence of passengers doubles the risk of a fatal crash, and with multiple passengers, the risk increases fivefold.

💡Fatalities

Fatalities in the context of this video refer to the deaths resulting from teenage driving accidents. The script provides sobering statistics, stating that 8,666 people were killed last year in automobile accidents involving teenage drivers, including both teenage drivers and their passengers. These fatalities underline the severity of the issue and the urgent need for preventative measures.

💡Full driving privileges

Full driving privileges refer to the legal right to drive without restrictions, which is typically granted at age 16 in many states. The speaker advocates for raising the age to 18, arguing that allowing 16-year-olds to drive unrestricted is dangerous due to their inexperience and underdeveloped brains. The proposed plan is to limit full driving privileges until young drivers have more experience.

💡Graduated driver licensing (GDL)

Graduated driver licensing is a system that gradually introduces young drivers to the road by imposing restrictions, such as limiting nighttime driving or the number of passengers allowed. The speaker supports implementing stricter GDL policies, especially restricting teenage passengers and nighttime driving, as part of a plan to reduce teenage driving accidents and fatalities.

💡Preventative measures

Preventative measures are actions proposed to reduce the number of accidents involving teenage drivers. In the script, these include raising the minimum age for driving privileges, restricting nighttime driving, and limiting the number of teenage passengers. These measures are argued to be essential for saving lives, as they address key factors that contribute to teenage driving accidents.

Highlights

A tragic car accident involving four teenage friends resulted in two deaths, including the driver, and left one passenger permanently paralyzed.

Teenage drivers are at higher risk of accidents due to inexperience, lack of full brain development, and risky behaviors.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teenagers account for 7% of licensed drivers but 14% of all motor vehicle fatalities.

In the previous year, 3,657 drivers aged 16-20 were killed in car accidents, along with 2,384 teenage passengers and 2,625 people aged 21 or older.

Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that 16-year-olds have the highest percentage of crashes involving speeding, driver error, and single-vehicle accidents.

16-year-olds are three times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than older drivers, according to USA Today.

Inexperience is a major cause of accidents among teenage drivers, but even raising the driving age won't eliminate the risk entirely.

Brain research shows that a 16-year-old's brain is not fully developed, particularly in areas related to assessing risk and decision-making.

Steven Lowenstein’s study reveals that risk-taking and aggressive driving are prevalent among 16-year-olds, increasing accident risks.

Night driving significantly increases the risk for teenage drivers, especially when combined with their inexperience and reduced ability to judge risks.

The presence of teenage passengers increases the likelihood of fatal crashes; having two or more passengers multiplies this risk by five.

The speaker proposes raising the age for full driving privileges to 18, allowing teenagers more time to develop their driving skills and brain maturity.

Nighttime driving should be restricted for drivers under 18, with curfews set at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. to reduce risk.

Teenage drivers should not be allowed to carry multiple passengers, with restrictions limiting them to one teenage passenger or only adult/family members.

The speaker emphasizes that while these solutions may seem harsh or inconvenient, they would save many lives and prevent tragic accidents like the one that left his nephew paralyzed.

Transcripts

on a chilly November night two years ago

a Ford Explorer was charging down a

California highway the 16-year-old

driver and three of his friends were

returning from a concert in Los Angeles

these young people were good students

gifted athletes talented artists and

musicians and none were drunk or

impaired by drugs they were however

driving to too fast and the driver lost

control of the car the car went into a

ditch and hit a

tree the driver and one passenger were

killed the other two passengers escaped

with severe

injuries one of these passengers was my

nephew today he is finishing High School

in a wheelchair a wheelchair he will

occupy for the rest of his life

unfortunately tragic auto accidents

involving teenage drivers are much too

common in all parts of the United States

after researching the subject for my

speech I have come to the same

conclusion as the experts that the best

way to prevent such accidents is to

raise the age for full driving

privileges to 18 or older I know from my

audience analysis questionnaire that

most of you oppose such a plan but I

also know from my questionnaire that

most of you recognize that 16 and

17-year-old drivers are less skilled and

less responsible than older drivers so I

ask you to listen with an open mind

while we discuss some of the problems

associated with teenage

driving some of the major causes of the

problems and a plan that will go a long

way towards solving some of the

problems no matter how one looks at the

evidence It All Leads to one fact there

are too many motor vehicle accidents

deaths and injuries involving teenage

drivers

according to the national highway

traffic safety administration while

teenagers make up 7% of the nation's

licensed drivers they represent 14% of

all motor vehicle

fatalities the nhtsa reports that last

year

3,657 drivers aged 16 to 20 were killed

in automobile

accidents in addition to killing the

drivers these same accidents took the

lives of

2,384 teenage

passengers but these accidents didn't

affect teenagers

alone they also took the lives of

2,625 people aged 21 or older so the

total number of people killed last year

in automobile accidents involving

teenage drivers

was

8,666

almost exactly the number of full-time

students at this

campus evidence also shows that the

younger the driver the greater the risk

according to the Insurance Institute for

Highway Safety 16-year-olds have the

highest percentage of crashes involving

speeding the highest percentage of

single vehicle crashes and the highest

percentage of crashes involving driver

error moreover as USA Today reports

16-year-olds are three times more likely

to be involved in fatal crashes than our

older drivers now that we've seen the

extent of the problem we can explore its

causes one of the causes is an

experience new drivers just haven't had

enough time on the road to develop their

driving skills but inexperience is far

from the only cause of the problem after

all there will always be inexperienced

drivers even if the driving age is

raised to 21 or even to

25 a second cause is revealed by brain

research findings from the National

Institute of Mental Health show that the

brain of an average 16-year-old has not

developed to the point where he or she

is able to effectively judge the risk of

a given

situation Dr jayge Who led the research

team that conducted the study States

when a smart talented very mature

does something that a parent might call

stupid it's this underdeveloped part of

the brain that has most likely failed

Steven Lowenstein a medical professor at

the University of Colorado has just

finished a five-year study comparing the

traffic records of 16-year-old drivers

to drivers aged 25 to 49 his conclusion

deliberate risk-taking and dangerous and

aggressive driving behaviors

predominated among the 16-year-olds

a third cause of Motor Vehicle

fatalities among teenage drivers is

night driving according to the

Washington Post when 16-year-olds get

behind the wheel of a car after dark the

likelihood of having an accident

increases several times over of course

nighttime driving is less safe for

everyone but it becomes particularly

dangerous when combined with a young

driver's inexperience and reduced

ability to gauge

risk finally

there is the presence of teenage

passengers in the car we all know what

it's like to drive with our friends the

stereo is up loud cell phones are

ringing everybody's laughing and having

a good time the problem is that all

these factors create distractions

distractions that too often result in

accidents injury and death Alan Williams

Chief scientist at the Insurance

Institute for Highway Safety reports

that one teenage passenger doubles the

risk of a fatal crash with two two or

more passengers the risk is five times

greater remember my nephew's accident I

mentioned at the start of my speech

there were three passengers in the

car so the extent of the problem is

clear so too are its causes what steps

can we take to help bring about a

solution first we need a national policy

that no one can receive a learner's

permit until age 16

and no one can receive full driving

privileges until age 18 this will allow

16-year-olds time to gain Driving

Experience before having an unrestricted

license and to reach a stage of brain

development where they are better able

to handle the risk and responsibility of

driving second we need to restrict

nighttime driving so as to keep younger

drivers off the road when conditions are

riskiest some states have tried to

address this problem by Banning

teenagers from driving after midnight or

1:00 a.m. but as the Insurance Institute

for Highway Safety reports these laws

don't go far enough according to the

Institute we need a 900 p.m. or 10 p.m.

limit until drivers reach the age of

18 third we need to restrict the number

of teenage passengers and cars driven by

younger drivers in fact says Kevin

quinland from the national

Transportation saf board passenger

restriction is the first and foremost

measure you can take to reduce teenage

driving fatalities according to quinland

the optimal policy would be to Bar

drivers aged 17 or younger from having

any passengers in the car unless the

Riders are adults or family members

drivers from the age of 17 to 18 should

not be allowed to carry more than one

teenage

passenger now I know all of this might

sound harsh and perhaps

inconvenient but the evidence is clear

that it would save a significant number

of

lives if you want to discuss harsh said

one father whose 17-year-old son died in

an accident 3 years ago I can talk to

you about harsh it's being awakened at

2:30 in the morning by the state patrol

telling you that your son has just been

killed everyone in this room has lived

to college age but this year alone

thousands of teenage drivers will not

live that long and they won't live that

long due to factors that we can

prevent there's no way to solve all the

problems we encounter on the road but we

can do something to help save the lives

of younger drivers and make the road

safer for all of us as I said earlier

this might sound harsh or inconvenient

but I know my nephew would gladly trade

both for the chance to walk

again

all