Study reveals multi-tasking teen drivers are more dangerous than adults

For teen drivers in Sacramento County, a driver's license means freedom and thrill. Unfortunately, a newly minted driver's license ends in disaster for many teens in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teen drivers in the country. However, not only do car accidents harm teen drivers, but they also harm other drivers out on the road.

One of the main reasons that teen drivers are so susceptible to accidents is because they are less likely to underestimate dangerous driving situations, such as engaging in distracted driving activities like eating, putting on makeup, texting, talking to their friends and messing with the radio. Distraction.gov states that 11 percent of drivers under the age of 20 that were involved in a fatal car accident were participating in some form of distracted driving at the time of the accident.

From diligence to slacking off

However, teen drivers don't start being unsafe drivers the minute they get behind the wheel for the first time. According to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, these bad driving habits begin gradually. While older drivers eat and drive or talk on their cellphone simultaneously put themselves at a greater risk for causing an accident, the study discovered that multi-tasking teen drivers were unable to handle doing two activities at once worse than their older driving counterparts.

The findings of this study came from two smaller studies. One of which looked at 100 more experienced drivers and the other tracked 42 newly licensed teen drivers. Although it was found that the teen drivers were diligent about refraining from distractions at first, about six months after licensure they started engaging in unsafe habits such as texting, eating and adjusting the radio.

How parents can promote safe driving habits

For teenagers, driving is a constant learning process that can should be monitored by their parents before they get their license and afterwards. In order for parents to ensure that their teenagers refrain from distracted driving, parents should:

· Make sure that their teen gets plenty of practice driving before heading out on their own.

· Set reasonable and clear driving rules for their teenage driver to abide by.

· Remember that just because their teen has a license doesn't mean that they are a fully experienced driver.

· Keep in mind that teen driving accidents can be deadly.

Unfortunately, teenagers don't always choose to listen to their parents and are overly confident in their abilities to multi-task and drive. If you were injured in an accident caused by a teenage driver that was driving unsafely, contact an attorney in your area to discuss what you can do to receive proper compensation for your injuries.