Teenagers are spending a significant portion of their time behind the wheel distracted by their phones, according to a new analysis. This alarming trend could have deadly consequences, as more than 3,000 Americans die in crashes involving distracted drivers each year, with nine fatalities occurring daily.
Teen drivers are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of distracted driving compared to other age groups. In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that a higher percentage of fatal crashes involving distracted drivers were linked to individuals aged 15 to 20 than those aged 21 and older. A recent study by AAA further revealed that driver inattention contributed to 58 percent of teen crashes.
Insights from Recent Research
Dr. Rebecca Robbins, from the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, emphasized the broader implications of these findings. “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,” she stated. “The findings from the study give us insights into the perceptions and beliefs from teenage drivers, which can be used to help create effective interventions to prevent distracted driving.”
Robbins, a founding member of Mass General Brigham, led the research published in the peer-reviewed journal Traffic Injury Prevention. The study, co-authored by researchers from Germany and other U.S. universities, was funded by the Casey Feldman Foundation, named after a 21-year-old woman killed by a distracted driver in 2009.
Understanding the Causes of Distraction
The research involved 20 interviews with high school students and a survey of over 1,100 teen drivers across the U.S. The goal was to identify factors influencing teens to engage in distracted driving. The study found that teen drivers spend an average of 21.1 percent of each trip looking at their phones, with 26.5 percent of their glances away from the road lasting two seconds or longer—a duration that significantly increases crash risk.
Taking your eyes off the road for even five seconds at 55 miles per hour is akin to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The primary reasons for distraction among teen drivers were entertainment, texting, and navigation. Despite recognizing the dangers of distracted driving, teens admitted that they believed their peers also engaged in such behaviors.
Addressing the Issue
More than 35 states have banned all types of phone usage for young drivers. However, a previous national study indicated that 91.8 percent of adolescents reported regularly engaging in at least one distracted driving behavior per trip. “We found that while young drivers recognize the advantages of using smartphone features like GPS, they also understand the heightened risk of accidents associated with distracted driving,” Robbins noted.
Robbins suggested several strategies to mitigate this dangerous behavior, including encouraging the use of ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode, keeping phones out of reach, and ensuring teens get adequate sleep.
Looking Ahead
The findings underscore the urgent need for effective interventions to combat distracted driving among teens. As technology continues to play an integral role in daily life, balancing its use with safety on the road remains a critical challenge. The study’s insights could inform future policies and educational campaigns aimed at reducing distracted driving incidents.
As lawmakers and educators work to address this issue, the hope is that increased awareness and targeted strategies will lead to safer roads for everyone.
