keep-teens-safe-Wisconsin.jpgWhile anyone can be guilty of drunk or distracted driving, teens are especially at risk. This is due, in part, to their lack of driving experience. However, it could also be because they are unable to truly understand the risks until it is already too late.

Could a simulation tool be the answer to helping them understand? The “Save a Life Tour” certainly seems to think so.

Teens and Distracted Driving

Drivers between the ages of 15 and 24 account for only 14 percent of the U.S. population. Yet according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), young drivers account for approximately 29 percent of all motor vehicle injuries. To put that in perspective, nearly 250, 000 teens (ages 16-19) are treated in emergency rooms each year for an injury sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Several factors contribute to this statistic, but one of the most prevalent is the use of cell phones (texting, talking, social media, etc.) and driving.

According to a AAA study that included video analysis of teen accidents, distracted driving was found to be a factor in six out of 10 moderate to severe accidents (58 percent). More specifically, cell phone usage and other forms of distraction was found to be a factor in 89 percent of road departures and 76 percent of all rear-end collisions. This is much higher than previous estimates, which considered distracted driving as a factor in only 14 percent of all accidents.

Teens and Drunk Driving

Every parent wants to believe that their teen understands the impact of drinking and driving. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case. In fact, according to the CDC, around 25 percent of all teens involved in an accident had been drinking. Of those, 17 percent had a BAC of .08 percent or higher (the legal limit for most states). Moreover, 22 percent of all teens report getting in a car with someone who had been drinking within the previous month, and 10 percent admitted to driving drunk themselves during that same time period.

The “Save a Life Tour”

Focused on helping teens understand the consequences of distracted and drunk driving, the “Save a Life Tour” visits schools all around the country and allows them to use a simulator that shows teens just how much these activities can impact their ability to drive. Many are astounded by the results and, after the experience, claim to understand that drinking or using their phones while driving simply is not worth the risk. Only time will tell if that translates into improved safety on the road.

Getting Help with Your Teen Driver's Accident

When teen drivers are involved in accidents, insurance companies often use their inexperience and these statistics against them to avoid paying out fair compensation. Because of this, it is critical that parents seek qualified legal representation for their teens. [[title]] offers both experience and aggressive representation to teen drivers and their parents. Schedule your free initial consultation with a skilled Appleton automobile accident attorney or Green Bay automobile accident attorney to learn more. Call 920-739-7366 today.

Sources:

http://www.wlwt.com/news/simulator-helps-show-students-impact-of-distracted-drunk-driving/38675060

http://newsroom.aaa.com/2015/03/distraction-teen-crashes-even-worse-thought/

http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html