My heart goes out to the parents of Tyler Gordon, the Fort Lewis College student who suffered a severe spinal injury in a single-vehicle car crash in late June. Gordon, who enjoyed rock climbing, snowboarding and other outdoor activities, is paralyzed from the neck down.

Gordon was driving his modified Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution at high speeds on U.S. Highway 550 when the wreck occurred. After the accident, he reportedly told a Colorado State Patrol trooper he was being “stupid.”

Studies have shown that the brain continues to develop through adolescence and young adulthood, making young people suseptible to risky behavior and poor decision making. In fact, researchers are learning that these are the very mechanisms by which the brain develops. The brain is in essense programming itself for better decision making in the future.

“Novelty seeking/sensation seeking and risk taking is the basis for considerable growth during adolescence, as well as for the seemingly reckless behavior of some adolescents,” wrote Dr. Elizabeth R. McAnarney, author of a long-term study on adolescent brain development published last year in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Speaking for myself, I know I made some pretty bad decisions back in the day. Fortunately, most us learn and grow in time to avert disastrous consequences. Others, sadly, pay the ultimate price for one poor choice. As I look ahead to the days when I will watch my sons go through this period, I can only hope that the odds will be in their favor.

On a bright note, the Colorado State Patrol announced last week that the number of youth ages 0-20 killed in motor vehicle crashes in Colorado dropped 44 percent between 2003 and 2008. The greatest decline in deaths was among people ages 15 to 20, which decreased 53 percent. The agency attributed this to the state’s Graduated Driver Licensing laws, which set limitations and requirements on new teen drivers, including a passenger restriction, a curfew and mandatory seat belts.