Teen Talk: Safe Driving (Distracted Driving)

What's Going On?

Safe driving means driving without distraction and within the speed limit. Safe driving requires paying attention to the road and obeying all traffic laws in order to ensure the safety of all. Engaging in any other activities while driving creates distraction and heightens the risk of motor accidents and deaths. The most prevalent distractions leading to injuries and fatalities incurred by drivers and passengers result from talking on the phone and texting while driving. Though the rules of safe driving apply to all drivers, the incidence of distracted driving among teens is especially high and compounded by inexperience.

What is distracted driving? It is simply driving while engaging in any other activity that draws attention away from the road. It can include anything from eating to putting on makeup to getting too involved with your car's audio or navigation system. Cell phones and other mobile devices create one of the most extreme distractions, whether through calling, texting, or emailing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies three categories of distracted driving:

• taking your eyes off the road (visual distraction), • taking your hands off the wheel (manual distraction), and • taking your mind off of driving (cognitive distraction).

Texting, for example, combines all three forms. Driving with distractions is unsafe because driving requires close attention to many factors, from road conditions and traffic signals to pedestrians and other cars. Many accidents could have been prevented if the driver was paying attention. Speeding increases the danger by reducing the driver's reaction time and worsening the damage and injury in the event of an accident.

The CDC reports that more than nine people die in the United States every day due to accidents caused by distractions while driving. Additionally, more than 1,153 people incur injuries due to unsafe and distracted driving. Teens are especially likely to be involved in accidents, which are the leading cause of death among teens in the United States.

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Phone use is the most common distraction which can cause a crash. Because teens are new to driving, they can require more concentration to drive, yet they account for the age group with

the highest percentage of distracted driving. Sources: VTTI, 2009; NHTSA; http://www.distraction.gov/stats-research-laws/facts-and-statistics.html. © EBSCO.

How Do You Feel About It?

As you look forward to getting your driver's license or enjoy your first trips behind the wheel, you are likely excited and proud -- and a little nervous. This is normal, and as you gain experience you'll feel more confident and calm as a driver. However, you should not let your feelings become a distraction or allow you to make poor decisions in the car, and you may need to change your typical behavior when you take on the responsibility of driving. Seemingly harmless activities such as talking to friends in the car, talking on the phone, and sending text messages present great risks when driving.

You may consider yourself a skilled and safe driver, but even if you've been driving for a few years, as a teen you are still statistically at high risk of accident. Other factors can increase that risk. You might be glad that you can finally drive your friends around rather than rely on a parent, but the more fellow teen passengers you have the greater the crash risk. It could seem fun to stay out late at a party, but most car crash deaths happen in the evenings or nights and on the weekend. And of course drinking or doing drugs and driving is extremely dangerous, causing distractions and dulling your reaction time. Speeding, another cause of fatal crashes,

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may occur for a variety of reasons, including stepping your foot on the accelerator because you are distracted by being involved with another activity.

You may have witnessed adults driving with distractions and feel that it's hypocritical to stereotype teens as bad drivers. You can always point out safe driving habits to adults in an appropriate way in order to bring greater awareness to driving safety. Maybe you're frustrated by parents warning you to drive safely and then asking you to call to check in or calling you even when you're driving. You might discuss strategies together to ensure safety by arranging to expect to communicate only when parked.

How Could You Respond?

Given that driving come with immense responsibilities, as a relatively inexperienced driver you should take even greater care. Always remember that you're responsible for yourself as a driver as well as for your passengers and everyone else on the road or sidewalk. Eliminating distractions is a key step in safe driving and can prevent many of accidents. Distractions to avoid while driving include:

• talking on a cell phone; • dialing a phone number; • checking messages; • texting; • sending e-mails; • eating; • changing music; • attempting to find something in the car; • singing or dancing to music; • putting on makeup; • chatting with other passengers, especially other teens; and • using navigation technologies such as a GPS to get directions.

Texting in particular is a major threat to teen drivers' safety. The North Dakota Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (NDDTSEA) states that more motor vehicle crashes killing teens are caused by texting and driving than drinking and driving. Of course activities such as drinking and driving, doing drugs and driving, or even driving while overtired increase the risk of distraction and should never be done. Many states are implementing laws regarding cell phone use while driving, which may help deter people from risky activities.

Completing a driver education class is a helpful way to learn more about driver safety and to practice safe driving. It's also important to be aware of and follow any state laws regarding teen drivers, such as limits on unsupervised driving or passengers. Distraction.gov, a website maintained by the US government, urges teens to "commit to being a safe, distraction-free driver." The website provides a pledge which you can print out and place in your car as a

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reminder to stay safe on the road. There are a number of ways to be proactive about driver safety:

• Share videos via social media of the consequences of unsafe driving. • Speak up by alerting friends and family to resist cell phone use behind the wheel. • Promote safe driving by publicizing distraction-free driving.

Practicing safe driving, free of distractions, saves lives for all on the road. As a driver, you hold the key to safety in your hands.

Bibliography

"Distracted Driving." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC, 13 Aug. 2015. Web. 11 Jan 2016. <http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted%5Fdriving/>.

Muskal, Michael. "Teen Drivers Distracted by Cellphones, Talking in Most Crashes." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2015. Web. 11 Jan. 2016. <http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-distraction-teen-crashes-20150325-story.html>.

"Teen Drivers: Get the Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC, 14 Oct. 2015. Web. 11 Jan 2016. <http://www.cdc.gov/MotorVehicleSafety/Teen%5FDrivers/teendrivers%5Ffactsheet.html>.

"Teens." Distraction.gov. NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, n.d. Web. 11 Jan. 2016. <http://www.distraction.gov/take-action/teens.html>.

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By Leah Jacob, M.A.

This article is copyrighted. All rights reserved. Source: Teen Health & Wellness: TeenTalk