A new study has explored how risky behaviour among teen drivers evolves as they age and gain driving experience.
Distracted driving remains a leading contributor to road deaths in North America according to official statistics. New research from the Traffic Injury Research Foundation USA, Inc. (TIRF USA) analyzed results of a national survey of 1,217 youth from 26 states.
It investigated age-related patterns in teen smartphone use, risk perception, and social influences to help target prevention strategies.
The survey revealed overall phone use while driving rises sharply with age and showed that at least a proportion of teens expressed a high level of confidence despite having only two or three years of driving experience in a fairly limited geographical area.
“When it comes to distraction, a key takeaway is that teen perceptions of cognitive risk in particular are not always aligned with real risk,” said Robyn Robertson, NDDC Chair and President & CEO of TIRF.
“More concerning, relatively limited driving experience can lead to overconfidence because teens dramatically underestimate the amount and types of experience needed to become a safe driver.
“These two critical elements are playing out to create a situation in which teens feel confident and distracting behaviors become normalized in a relatively short period of time.”
Researchers said it was important for parents, guardians and instructors to check in with their teen drivers and actively moderate their level of confidence by giving them a more objective assessment of the relatively limited experience they have gained.
The survey was conducted in partnership with the National Distracted Driving Coalition (NDDC) with support from State Farm.
