Cell Phone Use Contributes to Increase in Teen Driver Accidents at Night
May 10, 2010 – 2:18 pm
The risks of nighttime driving for teenagers have always been well known to Las Vegas personal injury lawyers. Teens may not be used to driving at night, may be tired or sleepy, or may find it difficult to drive in poor visibility, increasing their risks of a crash. However, these risks have been amplified ever since teenagers discovered cell phones and the joys of texting. That information comes via a study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute.
The findings of the study were released this week, and show that the number of fatal accidents occurring at night and involving motorists between the ages of 16 and 19, actually increased by 10% over the past decade. According to researchers, it is likely that this increase in fatal crashes is due to cell phone use by teen motorists. Teenage motorists may find it difficult to drive because of nighttime conditions and inexperience. However, those risks are magnified when you introduce a cell phone into the picture. Cell phones are extremely popular with teenagers, and improper use of these devices has likely contributed to this spike.
Unfortunately, teenagers often have an undeservedly high opinion of their driving abilities. For instance, many teen motorists believe that texting while driving is no big deal, and that they can comfortably multitask. The fact is that texting and use of a cell phone dramatically increase your risk of being involved in a crash. When it comes to teen motorists, those risks are magnified several-fold because of their relative inexperience. However, your typical American teenager will insist that he can text with his eyes closed, and still drive. Being comfortable with technology doesn’t mean that it’s safe to use in any situation.
When it came to adult drivers, the researchers found that the number of fatal accidents involving drivers above the age of 20, increased by 8% during the same period. They attribute this increase to alcohol use, which seems to be the number one factor in nighttime accidents involving adult drivers.
You must be logged in to post a comment.