The video linked to below uses cameras mounted in the vehicles of real teen drivers to show how distracted they can get using a cell phone in the car.
Described as the most “comprehensive research ever conducted into crash videos of teenage drivers”, this video shows a selection of the 1,700 accidents analysed by the American Automobile Association (AAA) – with teenage drivers using their mobile phones, chatting with friends and not paying attention to the road ahead.
Using dashboard cameras, researchers found that distraction was a factor in 58 per cent of all the crashes they studied – far higher than previous estimates.
The AAA has focused on teenagers because they have the highest crash rate of any age group in the US. In order to combat the problem, the study recommends that parents, who “play a critical role in preventing distracted driving”, should lay a set of ground rules with their children when they start to learn to drive.
2014 Research Overview (2:47) from AAA Public Affairs on Vimeo.
Tips for Managing Distractions
- Recognize that driving requires your full attention
- Pull off the road in a safe spot before you use your cell phone , GPS or any other mobile device
- Plan your trip in advance – program GPS systems, satellite radios, pre-set radio stations and climate controls etc, before you begin driving
- Before you get behind the wheel, familiarize yourself with features of your vehicle’s equipment before
- Use message-taking functions and return calls when you are stopped at a safe location
- Where possible, ask a passenger to help you in activities that may be distracting
- Secure mobile devices and any other objects that may become missiles in a crash
- Avoid smoking, eating, drinking and reading while driving
- Pull safely off the road and out of traffic to deal with children
- Do your personal grooming at home — not in the car
- Review maps before hitting the road
- Monitor traffic conditions before engaging in activities that could divert attention from driving
TeenDriving.AAA.com is your single best resource before, during and after your teen learns to drive. It’s where you’ll find the latest state-specific information on teen driving, useful tools to help improve your teen’s driving skills and more!
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