New Study Shows Distracted Driving by Teens Four Times More Prevalent than Previously Thought

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Car Accidents

There has been a myriad of information regarding the dangers of distracted driving. According to federal statistics, almost 11 percent of all fatal accidents which occur on the nation’s highways are caused by distracted driving. A new study, however, reveals that distracted driving is responsible for more than 50 percent of moderate to severe crashes involving teenage drivers. This is significantly higher than the 14 percent the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had previously reported.

The study was conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Researchers examined almost 1,700 videos from crashes involving teen drivers. The videos were taken from in-vehicle event recorders. The research team watched the six seconds preceding the crash of each video and found that in six out of 10 crashes, distracted driving was a factor of the accident. Distracted driving was responsible for 89 percent of all accidents in where the vehicle left the road and 76 percent of rear-end crashes.

There were a number of activities that caused the teen driver to become distracted and not pay attention to the road. These activities included:

• Interacting with passengers in the vehicle was the cause in 15 percent of the crashes;
• Using a cell phone was the cause in 12 percent of the crashes;
• Looking at an object in the vehicle was the cause in 10 percent of the crashes;
• Looking at an object outside the vehicle was the cause in nine percent of the crashes;
• Dancing or singing to music was the cause in eight percent of the crashes;
• Grooming was the cause in six percent of the crashes; and
• Grabbing for an object was the cause in six percent of the crashes.

Statistically, teenagers are in the most number of crashes than any other age group. In 2013, the year of the most recent data, 963,000 drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 were in reported crashes. These crashes caused the deaths of 2,865 teenagers, and left another 383,000 injured.

It is not just teenagers who are guilty of distracted driving. Studies have shown that many adults are just as guilty. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, contact an experienced Lake County injury attorney today to find out what compensation you may be able to receive for your pain and injuries.