Teen TWD troublesome
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers younger than 20 had the highest distracted driving fatality rate in the country. Drivers 20 to 29 rated second. A study completed by the Journal of Adolescent Health in 2018 reported that four in ten teens text while driving. 64% of teens in South Dakota texted in the past thirty days, the highest figure in the U.S. North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska rounded out the top five states with 58%, 55%, 52% and 50% respectively.
Larry Zou (Flickr)
In 2008, almost 6,000 people died and over 500,000 were injured in accidents attributed to distracted driving. A disturbing figure indicates that of the 82% of 16 and 17-year-olds who have cellphones, 52% said they use them while driving.
In a November, 2009 report from the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, teens texted while driving to find friends, get directions and to flirt. A small consolation were a few who indicated they tried to text only when stopped at a red light.
Although texting while driving is not solely a teen issue, it appears to affect more young drivers because of their lack of driving experience. No one, however, should take their eyes off the road while driving regardless of age or experience. By 2014, 44 states ban texting while driving for all ages. The remaining states (except Montana) have bans in place for young or inexperienced drivers. Arizona only bans school bus drivers from cellphone use while driving.
In 2010 and 2011 doctors started noticing an increase in the number of text-related accidents. Simple activities including walking, skateboarding and jogging have led to injuries requiring medical attention. Take a look at this story on the KidsHealth website: http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/driving/texting.html#
For more about texting while driving, see: http://askthejudge.info/graphic-video-illustrates-the-dangers-of-texting-while-driving/3046/
Bumper Sticker: “Honk if you love Jesus – text while driving if you want to meet him.”
Each day we read news about road accidents caused by texting while driving. Distraction behind wheel is dangerous. I do not touch my phone but stay connected while drivesafe.ly mobile application reads messages for me.