Smart phone use while driving presents a particular challenge with teenagers for whom constant connectivity is considered a normal expectation for daily life.
There is no denying that multitasking behind the steering wheel can be life-threatening, particularly when a driver is young and inexperienced. Texting, using social media and talking on the mobile phone are very common things among teens. So common that for many young drivers the compulsion to engage in these actions is so strong that it fits the definition of an addiction. Like many addictions, this one can lead to the worst possible consequences including death.
Parents must recognize and take action to mitigate the risks associated with teen drivers using their smart phone while driving. Underestimating this risk and as a result not taking whatever action is required to ensure that the teen driver is not using their smart phone while driving places the young driver in the most statistically dangerous position possible. Distracted driving associated with the use of a smart phone is a leading cause of teenage traffic accident fatalities!
Responsible parents must engage in proactive actions to assist their teenage driver in both understanding the risks and engaging in habitual behavior designed to prevent the use of smart phones while behind the wheel. This is a life or death situation – literally!
Compulsive... Uncontrolled... Constant Screens.
Screen Addiction and Teen Drivers
From a basic human interaction standpoint to individual parent-child relationships, digital devices have completely transformed how we all live and interact. Young people today have grown up as digital natives. They know and understand no other reality than being constantly connected with their network of friends. This technology enhanced reality has created a strong compulsion to maintain a state of constant connectivity resulting in the phenomena of screen addiction.
Social media and screen addiction has become a normal part of the average teenage driver’s lifestyle. 72 % of teens admit that using social media while driving is a normal activity for them, entered into without regard to risks.
Screen addiction, on the other hand, has increased the risk of fatal car crashes, particularly in the novice drivers. According to a recent study conducted by George Mason University, technology addiction and frequent use of mobile phones while driving is far stronger in teens than parent drivers.
As screen addiction is negatively impacting the safety and health of teens, finding the solution to this problem has become critically important for parents.
Simply refusing to allow teenagers to drive is not a solution. Mobility via automobile is a skill set requirement for modern life. Guiding young drivers to understand and accept the risks associated with using smart phones when driving while providing them the education and motivation to set their phones aside while behind the wheel is paramount to safety.
Whether it is a young motorist or teen driver, distracted driving is one of the major causes of collisions. The percentage of distracted driving accidents associated with smart phone use in teens is four times higher than experienced drivers.
Driver Inexperience
According to a Virginia tech study, 80% of car collisions involving young drivers are due to the use of smartphones. The study further highlighted that young drivers between the ages of 15 to 19 tend to face additional high risk of vehicle accident because of inexperience. The combination of smart phone use and inexperience is deadly.
As teens are relatively new to operating vehicles, they possess neither experience nor the skill it provides. Driving in different weather conditions, congested traffic or both requires practice. There is no doubt that a driver may take years to feel comfortable and to in fact be safe is such scenarios.
Lack of driving experience or skills is what causes split second and dangerous accidental situations that involve teens. These dangers can involve a vehicle veering into a narrow street, poor road conditions, and presence of an animal on the road etc.
Lack of driving skills when combined with distracted driving, dramatically raises the risk of car accident in teens. As mentioned earlier, teens are often functionally addicted to their screens and often lose their driving focus when engaged in activities like entering, emailing or texting data while driving. AAA Traffic Safety Foundation reported that around 12 % of car crashes involving teens (whether the accident is attributed to the teen or not) are due to such distractions.
What Should Teens and Parents do to Prevent Distracted Driving
‘Precaution is always better than cure’ - there are several things parents and teen drivers can do to avoid motor vehicle accidents such as:
o Creating a mutual understanding where parents guide teen drivers regarding the potential dangers of distracted driving. Make sure they are aware of the legal ramifications of using phones while driving.
o It is better to use safe driving apps to prevent distracted driving. These apps send reminders and templates to drivers regarding safe speeds and can prevent smart phone applications necessary for texting or email from functioning while the vehicle is moving.
o Parents should become good role models by avoiding the use of smartphones while driving themselves.
Sources
- https://www.teensafe.com/blog/parents-can-stop-teens-texting-driving/
- http://aaafoundation.org/
- https://www.teendriversource.org/teen-crash-risks-prevention/distracted-driving/cell-phones
- https://netsanity.net/teen-driving-smartphone-use/
- http://aaafoundation.org/
- https://www.teendriversource.org/teen-crash-risks-prevention/distracted-driving/cell-phones
- https://netsanity.net/teen-driving-smartphone-use/
