Driving while distracted is something we've all heard warnings about, but a new study shows just how often teens are looking at their phones while driving, and the numbers are alarming. It turns out teenage drivers spend about one-fifth (21.1%) of every car trip glancing at their mobile devices.
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What Exactly Are Teenagers Doing on Their Phones While Driving?
A study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention found that teenagers are most often distracted by entertainment, texting, and navigation. About 65% reported using their phones for entertainment, 40% admitted to texting, and 30% relied on their phones for navigation purposes.
Dr. Rebecca Robbins from Brigham and Women’s Hospital emphasizes, “Distracted driving is a serious public health threat and particularly concerning among young drivers. Driving distracted doesn’t just put the driver at risk of injury or death, it puts everyone else on the road in danger of an accident.”
We Know It’s Dangerous, So Why Do we Do It?
Interestingly, teenagers seem aware of the risks associated with distracted driving. Most respondents acknowledged that using their phones behind the wheel could lead to negative consequences. Additionally, they reported knowing their parents and friends disapproved of distracted driving.
But here’s the catch: Teens also strongly believe their peers frequently drive distracted, which makes this risky behavior seem socially acceptable. Many young drivers also expressed confidence in their ability to resist the urge to look at their phones, despite evidence showing they're still often distracted.
Could Simple Changes Keep Drivers Safer?
Dr. Robbins suggests practical steps to help teenagers stay safer, such as activating the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode on phones or placing devices completely out of reach while driving. Ensuring teens get enough sleep might also reduce the impulse to use a phone behind the wheel.
The research team behind this study hopes their findings will help educators, parents, and community leaders craft more effective messages and campaigns aimed at reducing distracted driving. For instance, addressing and correcting the false belief that multitasking with phones at the wheel increases productivity could help change attitudes.
Although the study had limitations, such as the small number of interviews conducted and the exclusion of urban teen drivers, the researchers believe their questionnaire can be widely used to gather further insights. Additional research could pinpoint exactly why teens take risks behind the wheel, leading to more targeted and impactful safety measures.
This issue is not just about teens, it's about making roads safer for everyone. Understanding the reasons behind distracted driving can help communities better support young drivers in making safer choices.
If you are interested in more details about the underlying study, be sure to check out the article published in the peer-reviewed journal Traffic Injury Prevention, listed below this article.
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