The largest study ever of teen driving habits indicates that they get into accidents not only because they drink and drive, but also because of distractions like noisy passengers and cell phones.
The National Teen Driver Survey of 5,565 teenagers, done in cooperation with State Farm Insurance and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, found that teen drivers face "a driving environment that would be challenging even to experienced drivers."
- 90% said friends in the car distracted the drivers;
- 79% said they had witnessed teen passengers dancing and singing;
- 89% said friends used cell phones for talking or text messaging while they were driving.
Teens also reported that many of their friends drink and drive, do not wear seatbelts, and participate in off-road racing. Every year about one in five high school students is a passenger in an automobile accident.
Labels: driving, text messaging, cell phones
Posted By: Aspen Education Group