6 out of 10 teen crashes involve driver distraction.
Conversations with fellow passengers and using their cellphone play a big part in automobile accidents involving teen drivers.
After analyzing over 1,700 videos of teen drivers seconds before an accident, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that distractions were a factor in 6 out of 10 incidents.
Even though talking and cell phone use were the most common distractions observed. Grooming, singing and simply taking their eyes off the road were noted as other causes.
These videos provide "indisputable evidence that teen drivers are distracted in a much greater percentage of crashes than we previously realized," said Peter Kissinger, the foundation's president and CEO.
Some important statistics:
- Teen drivers have the highest crash rate of any age group.
- In 2013 963,000 drivers age 16 to 19 were involved in reported accidents.
- Resulting in 383,000 injuries and 2,865 deaths.