More than 1 out of 3 young drivers say they know using a cellphone behind the wheel is dangerous but do it anyway, according to the results of a recent survey.
On behalf of the National Distracted Driving Coalition, researchers from Traffic Injury Research Foundation USA surveyed more than 1,200 drivers ages 14 to 20 about driving distracted and other risky behind-the-wheel behaviors, as well as how parents and friends influence their driving.
Of the 35% of respondents who admitted to using or interacting with their cellphone while driving in the past 30 days, 25% reported doing so every day. Almost 1 out of 4 of these respondents (23%) indicated they regularly watch video content while driving.
When asked to identify the most distracting activities, the respondents most often cited texting, social media use, taking selfies, handheld phone use and reaching for their cellphone.
Other findings:
- 37% of the respondents said they drive while tired or drowsy “at least sometimes,” while 11% do so “always or often.”
- 19% infrequently or never wear their seat belt.
- 17% “always or often” drive more than 10 mph over the speed limit.
When asked about who influences their driving the most, around half pointed to their parents, with friends a distant second. Many respondents also indicated their parents use devices “at least sometimes” while driving.
“Teens aged 16 to 19 have a higher crash risk than any other age group of drivers,” said Robyn Robertson, NDDC chair and secretary of the board at TIRF USA. “Inexperience can lead teens to overestimate their driving abilities and think nothing bad could happen. Unfortunately, this isn’t the reality and, in fact, road crashes are a leading cause of death for young people.”
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The National Safety Council has resources that parents and caregivers can use to keep teens safe behind the wheel. Go to nsc.org/justdrive to learn more.
