Distracted driving is the number one killer of teenagers in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Distracted driving was reported in 16 percent of the crashes where a driver involved in a deadly car accident was under the age of 20. Additionally, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has found that a person who texts while driving increases his or her chances of crashing by 23 times over that of a non-texting driver.
Alarming Numbers From the Ad Council
The Ad Council recently polled teenage drivers and the resulting statistics should cause alarm. In their survey, 82 percent of 16 to 24-year-old age drivers admitted they had read a text message while driving. 75 percent of young adult drivers acknowledged sending a text message while driving. Half of those surveyed also responded that in the last month, they had been a passenger in a car where the driver was texting.
This does not bode well for the safety of teen drivers. These are also troubling statistics for all who have to share the roads with young drivers, who are also just learning the rules of the road and how to drive in the first place. New drivers have a 50 percent greater chance of crashing in their first month behind the wheel than after driving on their own after a year of experience. Other common mistakes new drivers make include speeding and failing to yield the right-of-way.
Safety Efforts
Public service advertising campaigns are being launched on T.V, and radio, as well as on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to address roadway safety. The nationwide campaign seeks to curb teenage texting. Kansas City texting while driving accident attorneys and safety advocates hope that by educating young people on the dangers of texting and driving teens will not engage in this behavior.
The month of October is considered the most dangerous month for teenage drivers, because many students are on the roads driving to school and after school activities. The week of October 16 to 22 is designated Teen Safety Week and this last October students in one group, Project Ignition, organized activities across the country. The group sought to raise awareness among their peers and change dangerous driving behaviors of classmates who have returned to school. During Teen Safety Week, many teens signed pledges promising not to text and drive as part of the campaign.
Following an accident concerns may exist about whether a young driver was paying attention to the road or was distracted and possibly texting. Contact an experience Missouri personal injury attorney who can investigate the causes of the accident and make sure your rights are protected.
