A recent AAA study found that distracted driving is a major culprit in teen driving accidents. According to videos of teens filmed prior to accidents, researchers found that distracted driving is responsible for 78% of road departure accidents, and 76% of rear-end accidents. According to the Star Tribune, the study reveals that teen distracted driving is more of a contributor to accidents than was previously thought. Previous studies performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association had estimated that distracted driving was a factor in only 14% of accidents.
The researchers documented the common factors that distracted teens behind the wheel. The leading causes of teen distraction include interacting with other passengers and using cell phones.
Many safety organizations suggest that parents place limits on teen drivers. For instance, some groups suggest that parents not allow teen drivers to carry other passengers until they have had some experience behind the wheel. Minnesota law currently places restrictions on the number of passengers young drivers may carry in their cars.
Under Minnesota law, teen drivers are initially issued a “provisional license.” This license restricts driving to certain times of the day, and allows teens to carry only one passenger in the vehicle for the first six months the teen holds the license. During the next six months of the provisional license period, teen drivers may carry up to 3 passengers in the vehicle, provided that every passenger is properly restrained.
Another culprit that led to teen distraction was looking at something within the vehicle (10 percent of crashes) and 8 percent of crashes were the result of listening and singing along to the radio. Grooming and reaching for objects within the car accounted for another 12 percent of car accidents.
Teens are not the only group prone to accidents due to distracted driving. Last year, a North Branch woman killed an 11-year old pedestrian when she leaned over to get a lighter she had dropped in her car. She faces a felony count and a charge of vehicular homicide.
While distracted driving impairs all drivers, teen drivers are more prone to accidents because of their lack of experience behind the wheel. While older drivers may be better able to mitigate the risks of distractions, younger drivers are still gaining crucial behind-the-wheel experience. Furthermore, when teen drivers were involved in accidents due to cell phone use, researchers found that in half of accidents, teen drivers totally failed to react.
Educating your child about important details regarding the vehicle they use and the factors associated with it are vital to them becoming serious about driving. Young driver insurance from AutoInsureSavings.org or other similar companies should be able to help protect your teen from minor accidents and cases where there is minimal damage. Auto insurances, too, come with their own set of complexities (especially for young drivers), so it’s best if your teen understands this before driving.
Parents can prevent accidents by carefully monitoring their teens car use and by setting clear limits about what is and isn’t allowed when a teen steps behind the wheel. Parents can also set a good example by refraining from using cell phones while driving themselves.
Despite this, teens are still building judgment and driving skill and accidents are prone to happen. When they do, teens need to be aware that they can be legally and financially liable for any injuries they cause. The Law Office of Martin T. Montilino is a leading personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Distracted driving is one contributor in many personal injury cases.
