Believe it or not, your friends can be a huge distracting to your driving. By interacting with people in the car, it distracts you from concentrating on what is in front of you. If you turn around for a split second to look at someone, you can loose control of the steering wheel and possibly cause an accident. It may be uncommon, but it is something that is totally preventable. Especially for a new driver, it is very dangerous to allow many people in the car. Teenagers are known to get distracted very easily, but they need to know when to stay focused, and when its okay to interact in the car.
If you’re a parent, the next two facts about distracted driving will probably terrify you:
- A State Farm Insurance Agency study found that just one passenger with a teenage driver doubled the risk of a fatal accident, and that the risk was five times higher when 2 or more teens rode along. (1)
- The same study also found that alcohol-related teen auto fatalities are down, but the overall death toll hasn’t changed. Their explanation? Cell phones and text messaging have increased the occurrence of distracted driving. (1)
"It’s a well-known fact that driving with friends can increase a teen’s crash risk, which is why many states have laws restricting the number of passengers that teen drivers can transport. Now researchers from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm insurance have shed light on why teens’ driving skills can spin out of control when friends are in the car. Car accidents are the No. 1 cause of death among U.S. teens, who are four times as likely as adult drivers to be involved in fatal crashes. Two new studies published in the Journal of Adolescent Health pinpoint which teens are likely to drive with friends and how extra passengers can hinder their driving before a crash. In one study that surveyed 198 teen drivers, researchers found that those teens most likely to drive with multiple passengers were “thrill-seekers” who didn’t accurately perceive the risks inherent in driving and suspect that their parents are not monitoring their behavior." (2)
Drivers need to stay focused on where they are going when they are driving. They need to keep both hands on the wheel and facing forward at all times. It is important for the passengers to notice the harm they could potentially cause if they are distracting to the driver. In the end, this can be prevented.
Sources-
(1) http://www.driversedguru.com/driving-articles/drivers-ed-for-parents/friends-don’t-let-friends-distract-them-while-driving/
(2) http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/25/distracted-driving-additional-passengers-hinder-teen-drivers/
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