TTI study adds further tragic evidence to the fight against distracted driving

"We know driving at night is dangerous. We know using a cell phone behind the wheel compromises your ability to drive. Combine both of those with driver inexperience, and you have created a perfect storm."

These are the words of Bernie Fette, of the Texas Transportation Institute's "Teens in the Driver's Seat" center. He was speaking about TTI's 10 year study of highway fatalities, released yesterday, which shows that the percentage of nighttime fatalities has increased for teen drivers during the last decade.

And it's not because of alcohol.

As the Washington Post's Ashley Halsey notes:

"Among drivers 20 and older, alcohol was a clear culprit in the proportional increase in nighttime deaths. Not so with teenagers, among whom there was a greater increase but no corresponding jump in deaths that could be attributed to drunken driving."

According to TTI, 80% of teens know about the dangers of drinking and driving. Only 3% are aware of the risk of nighttime driving, yet driving at night is the single biggest risk factor for teen car crash fatalities.

TTI reports that "Nighttime fatigue can contribute to impairment that is similar to being intoxicated."

But, Bernie Fette says another factor--distraction--makes fatigue even deadlier:

"We have a test to see whether someone's been drinking, but there is no test to see whether you've been on your cellphone. Because teenagers have grown up with these devices in their hands, they feel a comfort level and a very false sense of security."

This sense of security is false because the research demonstrates convincingly that you just can't do this safely--you can't text and drive safely during the day, and you certainly can't do it safely at night.

I have to say, reading about this report during National Youth Traffic Safety Month makes for an awful coincidence.

Each and every day in this country, 11 teens die in car crashes. The worst part about this? These deaths are 100% preventable.

And people wonder why I'm on a rampage.

Please, if you are a teen driver or know a teen driver, visit distraction.gov to learn more about the dangers of distraction behind the wheel. Together, we can stop this.

Comments

[Travel Agents]

I'm from Australia and have 2 teenage children, the article just makes me more determined to make sure my children are aware that driving responsibly whether it is day or night is a must.

[Michael E. Bailey]

This study is another key indicator of why it is critical not to talk or text on the phone while you drive. Teenagers like to think they are invensible and can do things know one else would do and get away with doing it. Driving and using the phone is something that no one can do or ought to do and it is true for teenagers at least as much as for all other drivers. I'm glad people are finally taking notice of this important concern across the country. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Ben]

A good point well made. It would be interesting to see if there is an element of complacency involved - so are teens who have just started driving more cautious than those who have been driving for a year.

I know that as an experienced driver when I'm on a road I know and there's no traffic I might start thinking about work (normally trying to find something smart to say about fridge freezers)and then suddenly realise I haven't been giving my driving the 100% concentration it deserves - something I would never have done when I first started learning.