Driving Distractions Driving Distractions For Youthful DriversFor Youthful Drivers

DistractionsDistractions

Cell phonesCell phones PassengersPassengers Driving DrowsyDriving Drowsy

Cell PhonesCell Phones

Eighty percent of teen drivers own a cell Eighty percent of teen drivers own a cell phone. phone.

Nine out of ten have witnessed teen drivers Nine out of ten have witnessed teen drivers talking on a cell phone; seven out of ten talking on a cell phone; seven out of ten sometimes see emotionally upset teens drive sometimes see emotionally upset teens drive while talking on a cell phone. while talking on a cell phone.

Fifty-three percent report having seen Fifty-three percent report having seen teens use another kinds of handheld devices teens use another kinds of handheld devices (text messaging, MP3 player, or game) while (text messaging, MP3 player, or game) while driving. driving.

Forty-eight percent reported talking on the Forty-eight percent reported talking on the phone while driving. phone while driving.

Cell PhonesCell Phones Driving while talking on Driving while talking on

the cell phone approaches the cell phone approaches the same disability in the same disability in terms of driving as driving terms of driving as driving while intoxicated does.”while intoxicated does.”

– – Dr. Cathy Blusiewicz, Dr. Cathy Blusiewicz, Ph.D., clinical psychologistPh.D., clinical psychologist

   

AAA also recommends you not use your cell phone while driving.

Secure your phone so it doesn't become a projectile in a crash.

However, if you must call when behind the wheel, AAA suggests:

•Recognize that driving requires your full attention. •Before you get into the car, become familiar with the

phone's features.

Use the phone only if it's absolutely necessary. Use the phone only when and where it's safe to

do so. Ask a passenger to place the call for you and to

do the talking. Keep the call short. Tell the person at the other end that you're

driving. Get off the phone as soon as possible—especially

in traffic or bad weather. Don't combine a phone conversation with other

distractions.

PassengersPassengers Child and Young Teen PassengersChild and Young Teen Passengers

Between 2000 and 2005, 9,807 children ages 8 to 17 Between 2000 and 2005, 9,807 children ages 8 to 17 died as passengers in tow-away motor vehicle crashes. died as passengers in tow-away motor vehicle crashes. More than half of these deceased children (54.4 More than half of these deceased children (54.4 percent) were passengers in cars driven by drivers percent) were passengers in cars driven by drivers under age 20. Two-thirds of the children who died were under age 20. Two-thirds of the children who died were unrestrained. (Source: FARS database)unrestrained. (Source: FARS database)

Older children and teen passengers of drivers ages 16 Older children and teen passengers of drivers ages 16 to 19 are involved in nearly as many tow-away crashes to 19 are involved in nearly as many tow-away crashes with drivers ages 16 to 19 as with drivers in all other with drivers ages 16 to 19 as with drivers in all other age groups combined. Source: NASS databaseage groups combined. Source: NASS database

PassengersPassengers

Child passengers (under age 16 ) driven by Child passengers (under age 16 ) driven by teenagers (ages 16 to 19) have three times the teenagers (ages 16 to 19) have three times the risk of injury in a crash than children driven by risk of injury in a crash than children driven by adults. adults.

While children driven by teens are far more While children driven by teens are far more likely to suffer crash injury as those driven by likely to suffer crash injury as those driven by adults, their risk is 40 percent lower if the adults, their risk is 40 percent lower if the teenaged driver is their older brother or sister.  teenaged driver is their older brother or sister.  

PassengersPassengers

A tipping point occurs at ages 12 to 14 when the death A tipping point occurs at ages 12 to 14 when the death pattern of child passengers shifts to that of teen pattern of child passengers shifts to that of teen drivers, who are at a significantly increased risk for drivers, who are at a significantly increased risk for death in a crash. Because these children are not yet death in a crash. Because these children are not yet drivers, this increased risk sends an important drivers, this increased risk sends an important message to parents. Early on, parents need to prepare message to parents. Early on, parents need to prepare their children to be safe smart passengers and to be their children to be safe smart passengers and to be aware of the issues related to teen driving. Prevention aware of the issues related to teen driving. Prevention is key. is key.

These three key factors are the greatest predictors of These three key factors are the greatest predictors of death for older children and teen passengers: 1. Not death for older children and teen passengers: 1. Not using restraints; 2. Riding on roads with posted speed using restraints; 2. Riding on roads with posted speed limits of 45 m.p.h. or above; 3. Riding with a driver age limits of 45 m.p.h. or above; 3. Riding with a driver age 16 or younger. 16 or younger.

PassengersPassengers

Current data on crashes Current data on crashes

involving 16-year-old involving 16-year-old drivers shows that having drivers shows that having multiple teenage multiple teenage passengers in the vehicle is passengers in the vehicle is twice as likely to cause a twice as likely to cause a fatal crash as alcohol-fatal crash as alcohol-impaired driving.impaired driving.

PassengersPassengers

Among fatal crashes with 16-year-old drivers in Among fatal crashes with 16-year-old drivers in 2003, 28 percent had three or more teenage 2003, 28 percent had three or more teenage passengers. Only 13 percent involved drivers passengers. Only 13 percent involved drivers with a blood alcohol content above .08 with a blood alcohol content above .08

1998 study of police-reported crashes in 1998 study of police-reported crashes in Ontario found that carrying one teenage Ontario found that carrying one teenage passenger almost doubled the fatal crash risk passenger almost doubled the fatal crash risk of teen drivers compared to driving alone. The of teen drivers compared to driving alone. The risk was five times higher when two or more risk was five times higher when two or more teenagers were in the car.teenagers were in the car.

PassengersPassengers

2003 about 6 out of 10 teen passenger deaths 2003 about 6 out of 10 teen passenger deaths (59 percent) occurred in crashes with a teen (59 percent) occurred in crashes with a teen driver. While night driving with passengers is driver. While night driving with passengers is particularly lethal, many fatal crashes with teen particularly lethal, many fatal crashes with teen passengers occur during the day.passengers occur during the day.

In 2000, 63 percent of all deaths involving 13 to In 2000, 63 percent of all deaths involving 13 to 19-year-old passengers occurred when other 19-year-old passengers occurred when other teens were driving. The highest proportion of teens were driving. The highest proportion of these deaths were at age 16 (73 percent), 15 these deaths were at age 16 (73 percent), 15 (72 percent), and 17 (68 percent).(72 percent), and 17 (68 percent).

PassengersPassengers

According to the NYDS, 94 percent of teens reported According to the NYDS, 94 percent of teens reported witnessed distracting behaviors by teen passengers at witnessed distracting behaviors by teen passengers at least sometimes.least sometimes.Go to sourceGo to source

Nearly half of teens participating in the NYDS reported Nearly half of teens participating in the NYDS reported seeing passengers encourage teen drivers to speed at seeing passengers encourage teen drivers to speed at least sometimes.least sometimes.Go to sourceGo to source

53 percent of NYDS survey respondents witnessed 53 percent of NYDS survey respondents witnessed substance use (alcohol or marijuana) by passengers of substance use (alcohol or marijuana) by passengers of teen drivers at least sometimes.teen drivers at least sometimes.Go to sourceGo to source

Driving DrowsyDriving Drowsy

Today's busy teenagers get less sleep than they Today's busy teenagers get less sleep than they need, which may affect their ability to drive need, which may affect their ability to drive safely. Those who get less sleep than average safely. Those who get less sleep than average experience increased daytime sleepiness, depressive experience increased daytime sleepiness, depressive mood, high levels of risk-taking behaviors, and lower mood, high levels of risk-taking behaviors, and lower grades. Young drivers are at particular risk for fatigue-grades. Young drivers are at particular risk for fatigue-related crashes compared to older age groups. 16 to related crashes compared to older age groups. 16 to 29-year-olds are the most likely to be involved in 29-year-olds are the most likely to be involved in crashes caused by the driver falling asleep (Millman, crashes caused by the driver falling asleep (Millman, 2005).2005).

Driving DrowsyDriving Drowsy

Daily sleep is reduced by about 40 to 50 minutes Daily sleep is reduced by about 40 to 50 minutes from ages 13 to 19. This is caused by gradually from ages 13 to 19. This is caused by gradually later bedtimes but more or less stable rise times. later bedtimes but more or less stable rise times.

The majority of  fatigue-related crashes are caused The majority of  fatigue-related crashes are caused by drivers under age 25.by drivers under age 25.

Being awake for 18 hours is equal to a blood Being awake for 18 hours is equal to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%, which is alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%, which is legally drunk and leaves drivers at equal risk for a legally drunk and leaves drivers at equal risk for a crash.crash.

SummarySummary

A more recent study by the Insurance A more recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says the Institute for Highway Safety says the risk of a serious crash is four times risk of a serious crash is four times greater when a driver is on the phone. greater when a driver is on the phone.

Non-adult passengers can be a Non-adult passengers can be a dangerous and fatal distraction for dangerous and fatal distraction for young novice drivers.young novice drivers.

Summary (cont.)Summary (cont.)

Extensive published research demonstrates Extensive published research demonstrates that compared with driving alone, teen that compared with driving alone, teen

driver deaths increase with each additional driver deaths increase with each additional teenage passenger.teenage passenger.

Lack of sleep reduces a person's ability to Lack of sleep reduces a person's ability to processprocess information, sustain attention, information, sustain attention, have accurate motor control, and react have accurate motor control, and react normally. normally.

All are crucial driving skills!!!All are crucial driving skills!!!