Young Drivers Understand Risky Behavior But Tempt Fate Behind the Wheel
New driver data released during National Youth Traffic Safety Month (May)
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Despite the recognition of the danger, 83 percent of teenagers admit that they talk on a cell phone while driving and 68 percent admit to texting while driving, according to a survey of young drivers released today by National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and The Allstate Foundation.
The survey, which was released in conjunction with National Youth Traffic Safety Month (NYTSM), also revealed these young drivers feel talking and texting on cell phones is as dangerous as driving on icy roads and in rain and snow.
"Unfortunately, many young drivers know distracted driving is dangerous, but choose to take those risks when behind the wheel," said Sandy Spavone, executive director of NOYS. "Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death and injuries for teens in the United States, therefore we try to empower youth across the country to make a difference, reduce these crashes and develop and implement youth-led projects during National Youth Traffic Safety Month."
To gain a fresh perspective on current young driver knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, NOYS worked with TRU, a research company, which surveyed 605 young drivers, ages 16- to 20-years-old from across the United States. Through funding support from The Allstate Foundation, this survey found that many young drivers understand risks, but still chose to engage in those dangerous activities while behind the wheel.
"Reducing teen fatalities on our nation's roads is a priority for The Allstate Foundation," said Vicky Dinges, assistant vice president for public social responsibility at Allstate. "The Allstate Foundation believes that putting teens in the driver's seat to develop real solutions that will help change the ways teens think and act in the car is key to reversing the statistics."
Key findings include:
-- Young drivers believe driving on icy roads (93 percent), driving
while texting (87 percent), driving in the rain/snow (79 percent),
and driving while talking on a cell phone (63 percent), is dangerous.
-- Although they admit that texting while driving is dangerous, 80
percent of girls and 58 percent of boys text while driving.
-- Nearly 40 percent of teens have heard about graduated driver licensing
(GDL), but only 23 percent say their parents know their state's GDL
laws. Parents who do enforce GDL, however, have a big impact - fewer
of their sons and daughters say they've been ticketed (15 percent vs.
23 percent) and fewer have come close to being in a collision (56
percent vs. 72 percent).
-- Nearly half (42 percent) of teens knew a friend or family member who
died or was seriously injured in a car crash. More teens who have lost
a peer, friend, or family member in a crash have been involved in a
youth traffic safety effort.
-- 65 percent of teens have asked someone to stop driving unsafely, and
that number rises to 75 percent for teens involved in a youth traffic
safety effort.
The survey was conducted in January 2009, with a margin of error of +/- 4 percentage points and a 95 percent confidence level. To obtain a summary of the survey data, please visit www.noys.org.
Act Out Loud: Raising Voices for Safe Teen Driving
NOYS and The Allstate Foundation are also partnering to promote the Act Out Loud: Raising Voices for Safe Teen Driving contest, a teen-led and school-based activism competition to help spread the word about safe teen driving in communities across the country. Across the nation, the Top 20 Act Out Loud teams have been documenting their activism projects through blog, photo and video postings at www.ActOutLoud.org. The public is encouraged to vote for their favorite safe driving team online May 11-22, 2009. These online votes will determine which teams will receive money to further their safe driving efforts. Winners will be announced during National Youth Traffic Safety Month on May 27, 2009.
