I'm betting most of us can name a person that died in an auto accident from our high school days. My graduating class was 200. We had one person die, his name was Mike.
Arkansas is in the process of greatly restricting drivers licenses for younger drivers (This from a state that does not even require drivers ed before giving out listeners). The plan I heard will restrict drivers under the age of 18 to driving only in daylight hours with a licensed driver the age of 21 or older on board, or something like that. I think a young person can get a drivers "hardship" license at age 15 here..... These are pretty much doled out wholesale as far as I can tell "I can't drop my kid off at school, he/she needs a license".... It's pretty bad. Part of the new law may finally raise that age to 16.
The statistics for new drivers are amazing, a majority of all accidents are either involve or are caused by drivers with less than two years driving experience. I belong to a small Church in town, less that 100 members, but last year alone, FIVE cars were totaled by new drivers...., two by one person!
The new restrictions in AR sort of miss the point, driving is privilege and a skill that needs to be taught, by a person capable of teaching that skill.... not a "right" that every individual has under the constitution. Craig hit the nail on the head, Until AR (the U.S.) implements a drivers education program (one like Germany or Canada has would be great), the problem will continue, and each of our insurance payments will continue to be 60-70% higher than it needs to be.
We also have a lot of challenges in AR with elderly drivers, the ones that drive down a 55 mph state highway at 15 mph. This one is even tougher to deal with, once an elderly person can no longer drive into town to get groceries or medical suppliers, they can often no longer take care of themselves. I fear the day I can no longer see well enough, or have lost my "reaction time", and can no longer drive. At least younger folks can hop on bike.
My 0.02 cents worth