Teen Drivers Are More Likely To Be Guilty Of Distracted Driving

Summer is approaching and with summer we will see an increase in teen drivers on our roads. As the number of teen drivers increase, the risk of being involved in an accident with a teen driver also increases. During the school year, teen drivers are usually limited to driving to and from school, school functions, and work. However, during the summer teen drivers are much more active on the roads. Unfortunately, teen drivers are at a greater risk of driving while distracted according to one study.

According to a study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, teen drivers “are more likely to engage in high-risk secondary tasks more frequently over time as they became more comfortable with driving.”

In another study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that some distractions were statistically significant as a distraction for new drivers versus experienced drivers. Actions including reaching away from the steering wheel, looking at something along the side of the road, eating, and handling a cell phone.  As distractions increase, the risk of an accident increases.

How Can Your Protect Your Teen Drivers?

Even if your teen driver has been driving for a few months or a couple of years, you should take the time to talk to your teen about the dangers of distracted driving as we approach the summer months. Summer months are extremely dangerous for teen drivers. Below are tips for helping your teen driver remain safe this summer.

• Limit the number of passengers in the vehicle – Some states have laws that limit the number of passengers in the vehicle for teen drivers. The level of activity inside the car increases as the number of passengers increase. Limit your teen to having no more than two people in the vehicle at any time to decrease his or her risk of being in a distracted driving accident.
• Watch PSAs regarding distracted driving – There are many public service announcements online addressing the dangers of distracted driving. Watch these videos with your teen driver and have an open and honest discussion how to prevent the tragedies portrayed in the videos. Also discuss how quickly an accident can happen when the driver is distracted for even a second or two. Try Faces of Distracted Driving, OMG, Impact Teen Drivers, and Toyota Teen Driver 365.
• Discuss the types of distracted driving – It may be difficult for a teen driver to understand that a simple task can result in a crash. Discuss the definition of distracted driving and how various activities fall within this definition.
• AAA’s Top 10 Tips – Review the top 10 tips to avoid distracted driving from AAA. This is an excellent list to review with your teen driver on a regular basis.
• Teen Driver Education Programs – Enroll your teen driver in an online driving program. Take the course with your teen driver so that you can discuss the information and ways to avoid distracted driving accidents.

Have You Been Injured By A Distracted Driver?

Distracted driving continues to be the number one cause of motor vehicle accidents in the United States. If you have been injured by a distracted driver, call the injury attorneys of Tiemann Law Firm for a free consultation at (916) 999-9000. For your convenience you can also chat with a representative on our website 24/7.