• 25
  • January
    2012

Teen drivers are often called out for being inexperienced when it comes to driving, and are often considered to be borderline addicted to their cellphones -- which only aids to inattentive driving. But now, two recent studies point to the fact that teen passengers are also a distraction to teen drivers.

The studies were done by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance.

The first study found similarities among teen drivers who have multiple passengers in their car. Those drivers reported not feeling like their parents set strict rules or monitored where they were going. These same drivers also reported being self-proclaimed thrill-seekers, who were not all that aware about the dangers that come with the privilege of driving.

And while this group of teenagers only represented a relatively small group of drivers, a second study focused on those teenagers who have already been in a car accident. Many of these teen drivers reported having another passenger in their car with them before the crash, and even being distracted by that passenger right before the accident.

Additionally, it was also found that some teens -- specifically male teens -- are more likely to engage in rather risky driving behaviors, like speeding and not following traffic laws, when they have a teen passenger in their car.

After hearing of these two studies, one can make the correlation between these driving behaviors and an increased risk of getting into an accident. In fact, when looking at some of the common causes of car crashes, inattentive driving and reckless driving are two behaviors that top the list. However, while these behaviors seem to be more prevalent among teens with passengers in the car, it should be noted that not paying attention and speeding while driving are still not acceptable driving behaviors for anyone.

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Risky business: Teens driving with other teens," Joel Provano, Jan. 24, 2012