Texting and driving is obviously a huge issue, especially with young people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that deadly accidents that are linked to driver distraction are most common with those who are under 20 years old.
However, while using the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), the CDC uncovered a few very interesting statistics about distracted driving. One thing they found was that those who text and drive often are also more likely to be involved in a number of other risky behaviors. There was a direct connection between texting and driving and:
- Being more likely to drive after consuming alcohol.
- Being less likely to put on a seat belt.
- Being more likely to get in the car with another driver who had already consumed alcohol.
What this may show is that some people are simply not as worried about the risks, despite the statistics and the fact that avoiding these risks seems like common sense to others. They’re not as worried about texting and driving, and that mindset carries over and means they’re not as worried about proper use of safety devices or combining alcohol use and motor vehicles.
A striking amount of young people could have this very dangerous mindset. The CDC found that a full 42 percent of students they spoke with had sent an email or text message, while behind the wheel — and that was just within the last 30 days. One study found that the fatal crash rate for teens is three times higher than for people 20 and older. One study found that the fatal crash rate for teens is three times higher than for people 20 and older.
When drivers take unneeded risks and cause accidents, it’s important for those who are hurt to know if they can seek out financial compensation.
