Multiple news agencies have indicated that teens have become much more distracted in the last couple of years.
According to official data, more teens are dying and becoming injured in accidents caused by distractions than accidents caused by drunk drivers. Official reports show that every year, over 300,000 teens are injured in accidents caused by distracted drivers while 282,000 teens are injured in intoxicated driving accidents. The number of deaths is also higher when you compare the number of distracted driving accident fatalities and the number of intoxicated driving fatalities. Distractions claim the lives of 3,000 teens every year while intoxicated driving claims 2,700 lives.
A research was carried to find out exactly what was more dangerous: using a phone behind the wheel or drinking and driving. According to the reports, multiple law enforcement agencies have been working on developing programs and organizing events to teach teens about the serious dangers associated with distracted driving.
A recent event puts teens to undergo driving exercises in a driving course. This particular event puts the driver behind the wheel of a vehicle in a closed driving course while attempting to talk to some over the phone. According to news sources covering this event, teens that were about to start the test reported that they felt confident they would be able to easily talk over the phone and drive at the same time. After the test was carried out, the teen drivers reported they had a real hard time trying to focus on the driving while on the phone and that they had learned their lesson.
Safety experts and the authorities that organized this event were able to instill what they wanted to instill in teens that participated: that they should always focus on driving their vehicles and forget about their phone while behind the wheel.
When it comes to distracted driving, teens are not the only motorists who are guilty: motorists of all ages are guilty of being distracted every now and again. We need to encourage drivers everywhere to keep in mind that a text message or a call is not as important as their lives. Put the phone away and focus on the road ahead.
If you have a child who is a teen, set the example and avoid using your phone while behind the wheel. Studies show that teens who live in households where their parents use their phones behind the wheel are more likely to do the same.
You can click here to read the full report to learn more.