How Teens Judge Distance,
Location and Speed

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Teens see the world differently than adults. The challenge of driving among other cars requires the brain to do more than 100 complex visual-spatial calculations a minute. But teen brains aren't quite there yet. They haven't fully developed the ability to accurately judge location, distance or speed.

How Underdeveloped Information-Processing
Can Affect Teen Driving

Teen drivers have trouble determining:

• Location of their vehicle in a turn lane
• Distance from other cars in the turn
• Turning ratios
• Speed of oncoming cars
• Speed needed to enter traffic
• Speed of traffic ahead — how fast they are speeding up or slowing down
• How close they are to other cars, curbs or lines on the road

That's why it's important for parents to help teens understand why they should follow any cars ahead of them at a safe distance, maintain their concentration and remain aware of their surroundings.