Study Shows Distracted Driving Accounts For Almost 60 Percent Of Teen Crashes

Crashes caused by distracted teen drivers may be a much more serious problem than previously thought, possibly even four times greater than earlier estimates. Distraction was a factor in nearly 6 out of 10 moderate-to-severe teen crashes in a new analysis of nearly 1,700 videos.

These are the major findings of a report released on Wednesday by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a nonprofit research and education organization. The group called the study an “unprecedented look” into the causes of teen crashes and “the most comprehensive research ever conducted into crash videos of teen drivers,” a group that has the highest crash rate in the United States.

quizz - 3/26/2015 6:14:12 PM

+2 Boost

So the biggest reasons are (1) passengers and (2) cell phones, but these 2 are actually related: conversation. It doesn't matter if it's "hands free" phones, the core problem is that conversation is very distracting. The ultimate car for a teen? Stick shift Miata with the passenger seat removed. The passenger seat may be added once the teen turns 20.

Statistically, the likelihood of a teen driver accident increases 50% with every passenger added to a car. The worst car you can get a teen is a 3 row SUV or minivan.

iamdabest1 - 3/27/2015 12:33:43 AM

+1 Boost

hopefully the hummer comes back by the time my kids start driving.