Teen Thoughts and Behaviors about Texting While Driving

Teens do not entirely understand that importance behind not texting while driving. There has been a serious increase in accidents solely do to texting while driving. Texting has become such a commonplace action that teens are unable to understand the importance of how it defers one's attention and awareness of the road while driving. It is even more difficult to establish this mindset in teens in Arizona because there are no laws established by the State of Arizona. 

Here are some statistics of texting while driving...

• Despite the risks, the majority of teen drivers ignore cell phone driving restrictions.
• In 2007, driver distractions, such as using a cell phone or text messaging, contributed to nearly 1,000 crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers.
• Over 60 percent of American teens admit to risky driving, and nearly half of those that admit to risky driving also admit to text messaging behind the wheel.
• Each year, 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result has been expected to grow as much as 4% every year.
• Almost 50% of all drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 are texting while driving.
• Over one-third of all young drivers, ages 24 and under, are texting on the road.
• Teens say that texting is their number one driver distraction.
• About 6,000 deaths and a half a million injuries are caused by distracted drivers every year.
• While teenagers are texting, they spend about 10 percent of the time outside the driving lane they’re supposed to be in.
• Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver’s reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old.
• Answering a text takes away your attention for about five seconds. That is enough time to travel the length of a football field.

Click this link to learn about a possible texting while driving bill to be created in Ariziona.