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Shelley Osterloh ReportingPeople in the Smithfield area are mourning the loss of two 17-year old boys who died in a car crash. It serves as a reminder to parents and teen drivers that just a small distraction or loss of attention can be deadly.
Here in Utah, teenagers make up less than 8% of the drivers on the road, but are responsible for a quarter of all the accidents. It's one reason Utah has changed its requirements for getting a drivers' license.
Sky View High School's Football team has been undefeated, but today the team and other students are mourning the loss of Taylor Wick, a defensive tackle for the team. Wick and his long-time friend and schoolmate, Christopher Dorius, both died Saturday night near Smithfield.
The car in which they were riding apparently went out of control and was hit broadside by a pickup truck. Though we don't know what caused the driver to lost control in the first place, experts say most teen drivers simply lack experience.
Royally Fairclough, AAA Spokesperson: "Shifting lanes, coming to a stop at a stop light, anticipating stop lights. Just everything is really more troublesome for a teenager."
Teens we spoke with say fatigue and distractions also cause teen accidents.
Sean Swenson , Teen Driver: "They are not fully paying attention, they'll have friends or music playing and you'll look at a stop light or a stop sign. All it takes is one little mistake."
Robbie Fox, Teen Driver: "I think a lot of people just take it a little too quickly, obviously they speed a little more, and teenagers aren't patient."
As of August, Utah adopted new graduated driver education rules. The new law allows teens to get a learner's permit at 15, so they have a whole year to practice driving with their parents before getting a driver license.
The driver will be required to obtain a learner's permit prior to participating in behind-the-wheel training through a driver education program. An individual must be at least 16 to apply for the driver license. And once they get a license, teen drivers must also follow existing passenger limitations and night time driving restrictions.
Lawmakers are hoping that these new graduated driver license requirments will save the lives of teens like the two young men who died Saturday in Cache County.
