For teen drivers, having friends in the car can increase the risk of unsafe driving behaviors.
By now, we all know about the dangers of drunk driving, texting while driving, and other dangerous driving behaviors. But a new study has examined another potential cause of distracted driving: having passengers in the car. For most drivers, having a passenger leads to fewer unsafe behaviors, such as being on their cell phone while driving. But for teens, it may actually be more dangerous to have passengers in the car.
AT&T commissioned a study to research the risks associated with different distracted driving behaviors. The study focused on how the number of people in a vehicle can increase or decrease the risk of bad driving behaviors. Generally, if a person feels responsible for the passengers in their car, they are less likely to engage in bad or dangerous driving behaviors. This is particularly true of parents transporting children; even though the kids can be a distraction, parents and other adults tend to be more careful drivers when they have children in the car. But for teens driving with their friends, the risk of distracted driving may actually increase — leading to a higher chance of serious car accidents.
The Study Results
The AT&T study reported that 64% of drivers admitted to engaging in unsafe, distracted driving behaviors while they were driving alone—such as checking their phone or texting while driving. The number went down sharply when at least one passenger was in the car, with 36 percent of drivers reporting that they engaged in these same distracted driving behaviors when there was someone else in the car. If that other person is a child, the number is even lower: just 30 percent of drivers reported engaging in unsafe driving behavior.
The study was commissioned as part of AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign, which aims to reduce the dangers associated with distracted driving due to cell phone use. Texting and driving — or using any form of social media — can cause serious car accidents, including those leading to fatalities. Drivers can take the pledge to not use cell phones while driving via AT&T’s website.
Teens and Passengers
While most drivers are more careful to avoid distracted driving behaviors when passengers are in the car, the same is not necessarily true for teen drivers. The AT&T study did not specifically focus on the dangers of teens driving with passengers, but the reality is that for many young drivers, having passengers in the car can be a major distraction and increase the likelihood of an accident. For each additional teen passenger in the vehicle with a new driver, the chance of getting into a car accident increases significantly.
The popularity of social media helps to fuel the risk of distracted driving for teens. It is not uncommon for teens to take selfies or videos while behind the wheel of a car — or for a passenger to be taking a picture or video and distracting the driver while doing so. If you have a teen driver in your household, talk to him or her about the dangers or any sort of cell phone use while they’re driving — and the possibility that having friends in the car with them can increase the risk of them being in an accident.
Distracted Driving Crashes
Proving that a car crash was caused by distracted driving can require extra effort on the part of your car accident attorney. It may require requesting phone records or data from the phone itself, or some other investigative methods to determine if the other driver’s distraction led to the crash. If you suspect that the other driver in a car accident was distracted and that caused the incident, call a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Contacting a car accident attorney immediately can make the difference in preserving important evidence.
The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker have substantial experience handling all types of car accident cases, including those caused by distracted drivers. Contact us today at 800-333-0000 or info@larryhparker.com to schedule an appointment. Our initial consultations are always free, and we never charge a fee unless we recover money for you!
