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Young People Least Likely Passengers to Put a Stop to a Distracted Driver’s Cell Phone Use

Young passengers are the least likely to say something to a driver who is texting or talking on a cell phone while driving, according to US Department of Transportation (DOT) survey results announced earlier this week by US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Cell phone use while driving is a common cause of auto accidents and puts teens at serious risk of catastrophic and fatal injuries.

The survey was conducted by DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and included information from more than 6,000 drivers from across the country. The survey seems to show teens and young people are particularly at risk for distracted driving car accidents:

  • Only one-third of young passengers would say something to a driver using a cell phone, while half of drivers age 65 and older would say something.
  • Drivers age 18 to 20 report the most cell phone involvement in car accidents and situations that almost resulted in a car accident.
  • Drivers younger than 25 years old are two to three times more likely to send or read a text while driving, a common driver distraction.
  • The number of reports of texting while driving dropped with increasing age.

Teen drivers can seriously injure themselves and their passengers when distraction causes a car accident. Promoting educational and awareness-raising measures is an important part of preventing violent auto accidents that can abruptly change the course of a young person’s life.

If you or your teen has been injured in a car accident in Orlando, Florida caused by someone else’s distracted driving, please contact the Law Offices of Michael Barszcz, M.D., J.D., to schedule a consultation.