A new study offers a stark reminder of the pervasive issue of cell phone use among young drivers. Findings reveal that teen drivers spend an average of 21.1% of their driving time looking at their mobile devices. This behavior poses a significant risk, as even brief distractions can lead to accidents.
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Traffic Injury Prevention, involved a questionnaire completed by over 1,100 teen drivers across the United States. Respondents estimated that 26.5% of their phone glances lasted two seconds or longer, a duration that dramatically increases the risk of crashes. The most common reasons for these distractions were entertainment (65%), texting (40%), and navigation (30%).
Understanding the Risks of Distracted Driving
Dr. Rebecca Robbins, lead author and researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, emphasizes the dangers of distracted driving. “Distracted driving is a serious public health threat, particularly concerning among young drivers. It doesn’t just put the driver at risk of injury or death; it endangers everyone on the road,” she states.
Despite legislative efforts, with 35 states banning all types of phone usage for young drivers, a previous national study found that 91.8% of adolescents still report engaging in at least one distracted driving behavior per trip. These behaviors include texting, talking on the phone, or using it for music.
Exploring Teen Attitudes and Beliefs
The research team, comprising experts from Mass General Brigham, Harvard University, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, the University of Massachusetts, and the Technical University of Munich, aimed to identify factors influencing teens to drive distracted. They conducted 20 interviews with high school students to explore attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioral control regarding phone use while driving.
The findings revealed that while many young drivers understand the risks associated with distracted driving, they perceive it as a social norm among their peers. Interestingly, most teen drivers expressed a “strong belief” in their ability to resist the temptation to drive distracted.
“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,” said Dr. Robbins.
Strategies for Reducing Distracted Driving
To combat this issue, Dr. Robbins suggests encouraging the use of ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode, keeping phones out of reach, and ensuring teens get adequate sleep. These strategies could effectively mitigate the dangerous behavior of distracted driving.
The paper aims to assist educators, parents, and local education leaders in creating message-based promotions. One suggested campaign could focus on debunking the myth that phone use while driving enhances productivity.
Limitations and Future Research
While the study provides valuable insights, the authors acknowledge limitations, such as the small sample size for the semi-structured interviews. “This may not accurately represent the broader high school-aged driving population,” they state. Additionally, the exclusion of urban schools during the qualitative phase, due to lower prevalence of driver’s licenses, suggests a need for replication among urban adolescent drivers to ensure broader applicability.
Nevertheless, the authors propose that their questionnaire could be used in future research to interview more young drivers. “Such future quantitative research can first assess the presence and the strength of these beliefs, then investigate their relationship to behavioral intentions and actual behaviors,” they write.
“This approach can help to illuminate the beliefs most strongly linked to behavioral intentions, guiding the development of targeted interventions,” they conclude.
As distracted driving remains a critical issue, understanding the underlying beliefs and behaviors of young drivers is essential for developing effective interventions. By addressing these challenges, stakeholders can work towards safer roads for everyone.
