Another Reason Why Teens Should Drink MORE Coffee Or Push Back School Start Times

Yet another reason for those bratty teenagers to push back a school's start time? Guess what, there may be a proper case for this one.

According to a study conducted by Eastern Virginia Medical School, it appears that there is a correlation between sleep deprivation and poor driving.

Data collected from two towns with a start time difference of an hour and 20 minutes has shown that Virginia Beach -- the town with the earlier start time -- had 65.4 crashes per 1,000 teens, where Chesapeake -- the town with a later start time -- had 46.2 crashes per 1,000 teens.

This equates to a 41 percent higher rate of crashing.

Could this be due to dangerous roads and the start time is merely a coincidence or could the amount of sleep play a vital role in the driving capability of today's youth?

What say you, Spies?


Teens are challenged to get enough sleep. Their biological clock means about 11 p.m. is their natural sleep time. Sleep experts recommend teens get 8.5-9 hours of sleep, yet many have to get up early for school. Sleep deprivation in teens not only affects school performance and behavior, but a new study shows that the earlier morning school start times are associated with an increase in teen car crashes.

The study, conducted by professors at the Eastern Virginia Medical School, looked at data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles for two towns—Virginia Beach and Chesapeake....

[Source: Consumer Reports]








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synx - 6/12/2010 6:00:11 PM

+3 Boost

"it appears that there is a correlation between sleep deprivation and poor driving"

Um... duh. You don't need a study to tell you that.

BondMI6 - 6/12/2010 6:03:16 PM

+3 Boost

Yeah- and try telling a teen they need more sleep when that is THE #1 time in their life for partying.

Not gonna happen.

rxh8me9000 - 6/13/2010 12:42:28 AM

+3 Boost

How about better parenting?Good parents will make sure their kids are not in the street partying on a weekday and make sure they are in bed at a reasonable time.If I had kids I would make sure I give them enough freedom to grow up,yet not enough to get themselves in trouble or be on the streets. As long as they dont give me a reason not to trust them im ok with them going out and having fun. Bring me good grades,stay away from drugs and alcahol and respect my rules and I have no problem with you staying out a little late.Break my trust and all that changes.

dotuno - 6/13/2010 1:39:54 PM

+2 Boost

"According to a study conducted by Eastern Virginia Medical School, it appears that there is a correlation between sleep deprivation and poor driving."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there is a correlation between sleep deprivation and poor performance in ANY activity that requires alert senses.

And funding certainly went to to this "study".

As for teens and their irresponsibility: does it not boil down to bad parenting like all else? Spanking kids is now physical abuse, scolding is emotional abuse, but you can buy them a Maybach or BMW for their sweet sixteen and then wonder where you went wrong when they crash it coming home at 2a.m. from a drunken, drug-fueled party.