How distractions lead to teen crashes & what you can do

It has long been known that cellphones, passengers, and other distractions contribute to many crashes involving teen drivers.

But 2 studies by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that the problem may be bigger than once thought. In 1 study, after carefully analyzing more than 2,200 videos recorded by in-vehicle cameras, AAA determined that distractions contributed to nearly 6 in 10 teen crashes—4 times what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration previously estimated.

In a separate study of crash rate data, AAA determined that drivers age 16–17 are 3 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than adult drivers. As distraction is a leading cause of teen crashes, understanding the distractions teens face and how they can avoid them is key to keep them safe on the road.

AAA’s researchers found that the way teens use their cellphones behind the wheel changed significantly over the 8-year course of the study. By the time the study ended, teens were more likely to be texting or looking down at the phone than talking on it in the moments leading up to a crash than when the study began.
 

• Among rear-end crashes, the average time that drivers had their eyes off the road increased from 2 seconds to 3.1 seconds. The duration of the longest glance also rose from 1.5 seconds to 2.1 seconds.
  
• The percent of crashes in which the driver had no reaction prior to the crash rose from 13% to 25%.
  
• In a separate survey, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that from 2007 to 2014, the percentage of young drivers seen manipulating a handheld device quadrupled.¹

In all crashes, the following proportions of drivers were seen doing each activity:
 

• 11%: Looking at something inside the vehicle
• 10%: Looking at something outside the vehicle
• 9%: Singing or dancing to music
• 5%: Person grooming
• 5%: Reaching for an object
• 2%: Eating or drinking

In addition, fatal teen crashes are on the rise. The number of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes increased 11% from the previous year, according to the NHTSA's 2021 crash data, the most recent data available.

• Have teens learn good habits in the classroom ... and with their parents: For teens who don’t yet have their licenses, driving school is an important first step toward developing focus behind the wheel. Outside the classroom, parents should set a good example; even teens who are already licensed pick up habits from their parents. 
• Create a parent-teen driving agreement: Working out an agreement together is a chance for parents to explain the importance of driving distraction-free, and to make driving privileges dependent on the teens’ commitment to safety. The signed agreement can be displayed at home as a daily reminder. Take a look at a sample agreement.
• Set rules for how many teens can accompany their young driver: In most states, thanks to Graduated Driver Licensing laws, there are legal limits on how many young passengers can ride with intermediate-level teen drivers. Parents should ensure that their teens know the law, verify that they are complying, and consider setting their own, more stringent rules.