Educating Teen Drivers on the Risk of Cell Phone Use

Teens and parents have stated that there are certainly gaps in the driver’s education program. One of the largest gaps tends to be establishing safe driving habits. The current messages about cell phone use and alcohol use as a teen driver are missing the mark. Different populations of teens are facing different risks when it comes to driving.

How can parents and schools make sure teens are receiving the right messages about cell phone use, alcohol, and other distractions while driving? Some states have surveyed teens about what they consider dangerous while driving. Using the information provided by teens, schools can assess their programs and decide if they are sending the right messages to teen drivers.

Teens need time to gain experience and to build critical skills behind the wheel. Graduated Licensing Laws are another measure many states have implemented to address inexperience and distractions. Several insurance companies are also working with the states to implement Graduated Licensing Laws.

Passengers can distract drivers.

Recent surveys of teen drivers resulted in the following information:

•Teens don’t think they are inexperienced drivers

•60% of teens believe inexperience influences safety, but only 15% consider their peers to be inexperienced.

•Teens base experience on obtaining a license rather than on miles driven or exposure to difficult driving circumstances.

•¼ of teens think that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous.

•79% of teens feel text messaging while driving is dangerous, but they have sent a text message while driving at least once.

•Most teens recognize that when a cell phone call triggers emotions, they pose a greater danger in the car.

•10% of teens view passengers as a distraction.

Using the above data, we can address these messages teens currently see and correct their misconceptions. Across the country, certain teen populations are receiving different messages than others about speeding, drinking, and distractions.

The first step in educating teens about the hazards of using a cell phone while driving lie with the parents. The adults who care about the safety of the teen drivers are in the best position to influence the teens. Parents, educators, and clinicians are the most effective in conveying safety messages that resonate with teens.

With the increase in motor vehicle accidents, it is even more important to stress safety in the car. Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death among teens in the United States. Teen drivers aged 16-19 are four times as likely to die at the rate of adult drivers.

State Farm has teamed up with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to create the Young Driver Research Initiative. This program focuses on surveying teens about auto accidents and the driver’s education program. Most insurance companies will offer discounts to teen drivers who stay in an education program longer than 6 weeks.

Police officers hold a large responsibility in watching drivers using cell phones. Unfortunately it is hard for officers to identify the age of drivers before they pull them over. One place many police officers are looking for cell phone usage by teens is at the end of school. Several high school students are prone to jumping on their phone the second they are out of class and in their car. This is one area for police officers to stake out, but this won’t solve all the problems.

Limiting phone usage is tough for parents to enforce upon teens, especially since most teens tend to carry their phones with them. Schools can play a large role in enforcing the cell phone ban as well. Holding educational courses about cell phone use while driving can teach the teens about the dangers associated with cell phones and driving.