Why some teens can't be safe drivers

With driver's licenses in hand, teens may think they're safe drivers. But considering how the adolescent brain develops might be a good idea. Young drivers whose brain function falls behind that of their peers are more likely to report having a car crash, according to a new study.

Globally, traffic accidents account for a great proportion in the deaths of adolescents. In the US,for instance, the youngest drivers have the highest rate of crashes and driving-related injuries. “It's a big public health concern,” says Elizabeth Walshe, the research leader from the University of Pennsylvania.

Walshe's team followed a group of kids for seven years,starting when they were between the ages of 11 and 13.Every few years, the researchers measured traits linked to having a car crash. At the end, they asked 84 of the participants about their driving experiences, including crashes. Roughly three in ten reported at least one accident.

The researchers focused on the participants' working memory. Think of it like a computer's random access memory, or RAM. To size up their working memory, the participants took a computer test that measured their reaction time. The scientists found that accident risk wasn't linked to the working memory a participant had at the start of the study. Instead, it was tied to the pace at which a teen's working memory developed.

Knowing the relationship between the brain's RAM and crash risk is helpful.Walshe imag-ines teens taking a test in a doctor's office. Comparing kids' working-memory development to their peers' might identify teens at higher risk for an accident. It might point out who could use more assistance during driver training.

Driving is complex. Throughout, the brain is constantly updating information to help a driver plan the next move. “There're many things that have to be tracked and responded to meanwhile,” notes Monica Luciana, a scientist from the University of Minnesota. With experience, these tasks become more automatic. “Cutting down on distractions (分心) is smart, as this takes some burden off a new driver's working memory,” Luciana says. “What's more, working memory is a system that can change.And we can influence somebody's ability through training.”

閱讀檢測

1. Why is analyzing the way the adolescent brain develops considered to be a good idea?

A. It may be the key to reducing car crashes.

B. It could result in lack of driving experience.

C. It's likely linked to the risk of car accidents.

D. It helps contribute to safe and stable driving.

2. What made Elizabeth Walshe decide to conduct the research?

A. Her desire to find solutions to traffic problems.

B. The effects of driving experiences on teenagers.

C. The worsening situation of public health issues.

D. The popularity of teens-related crash accidents.

3. What is the right finding of the research by Walshe's team?

A. The teens' driving experience is related to their ages.

B. About half of the teens experienced traffic accidents.

C. Slower brain development could increase accident risk.

D. The accident risk depends on the teens' working memory.

4. What is the significance of the study?

A. It successfully confirms the main cause of car accidents.

B. It helps identify who needs extra help during driver training.

C. It helps identify who should be forbidden from driving.

D. It reveals the difficulty teenagers have in driving safely.

語言學習

寫作推薦

Knowing the relationship between the brain's RAM and crash risk is helpful. 了解大腦內存和撞車風險之間的關系是有幫助的。

【信息提取】V-ing形式作主語，謂語動詞用單數。

【句式仿寫】閱讀是一門藝術。