Distracted Driving Remains a Problem for Teens

AAA’s new study shows that teen girls are twice as likely as teen boys to use electronic devices while driving. On the other hand, teen boys are almost twice as likely to turn around in their seats while driving, and are more likely to communicate with people outside of the vehicle. The in-car video study also shows that the most commonly observed distracted driving activity for new teen drivers is use of electronic devices, while other common distractions include personal grooming, adjusting controls and reaching for objects. In addition, many of the distracting behaviors appear more prevalent among the older teens, suggesting a shift in attitude as drivers get more comfortable behind the wheel. Passengers also negatively influenced driver behavior, and the study shows teen drivers are six times as likely to have a serious incident when loud conversation occurs in the vehicle. These behaviors are linked with instances of teens looking away from the roadway. According to the findings, teen drivers using electronic devices take their eyes off the road for a full second longer than drivers not using such a device. "A second may not seem like much, but at 65 mph a car travels the length of a basketball court in a single second," AAA CEO Peter Kissinger says. "That extra second can mean the difference between managed risk and tragedy for any driver." For more information and science-based tools for teen drivers and their families, visit www.teendriving.aaa.com.