UNDATED, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The week of October 20 – 26th markes Teen Driver Safety Week, and researchers at MSU have released findings into teen driver statistics.
Dr. Peter Savolainen of MSU says the study took place took place from 2011 and 2013 by tracking 3,400 drivers that were monitored using several instruments.
“We literally have unparalleled information about what was happening both inside and outside the vehicle, and that’s been a big advantage compared to traditional research where we know what happens leading up to these crash events based on police crash reports,” Savolainen said.
Many of the crashes surveyed were due to cell phone-related distractions while driving.
“We basically looked at how frequently drivers were distracted, and there was actually more than 60 different types of categories that are coded,” Savolainen said. “That includes various types of cell phone use [such as] talking or listening on the phone, texting, browsing the web, etc. etc.”
While using a cell phone while driving can cause crashes, other types of distractions causing crashes occur by taking eyes off the road.
“Crash risks were highest when someone was looking at other objects external to the vehicle, so rubbernecking and things of that nature,” Savolainen said. “Immediately below that would have been various types of more intense cell phone use, so that would include holding the phone, using the browser on the phone, texting.”
Regardless of what type of distraction occurs, the data says that teen drivers are the most likely to engage in distracted driving, as well as the group with the highest rate of crashes.
Researchers suggest that teen drivers minimize distractions and put away cell phones before getting on the road.
