A Closer Look at Teen Texting while Driving with Real Accident Stories
In the five seconds it takes to check a text while driving could result in a life-changing consequence. Teens and new drivers are the most common drivers to check their phones while on the road. To help make you more aware of the dangers of distracted driving, we’re collecting texting and driving accident stories to share with your teens.
Contents:
- Does Texting and Driving Create a Crash Risk? Statistics and Numbers
- Real Life Texting and Driving Accident Stories
- Who is Most at Risk for Texting and Driving?
- Protect Your Teen with the Findmykids App
- FAQ
Does Texting and Driving Create a Crash Risk? Statistics and Numbers
Yes, texting and driving creates a major risk of crashing while on the road. When you check your phone for just five seconds, you become a danger to yourself and other drivers around you.
Texting while driving is particularly prevalent among teenagers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 39% of high school students who drove in the past 30 days admitted to sending texts or emails while driving.
Moreover, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that distraction was a factor in nearly 6 out of 10 teen wrecks, with texting being one of the most common distractions.
Despite these alarming statistics, a survey by the American Automobile Association found that while 94% of teens acknowledge the danger of texting while driving, 43% admitted to doing it anyway.
after checking a text, it can take 27 seconds to reorient your vision and attention to the road. During this time, the driver’s reaction time is decreased by 35%, creating a dangerous environment for both those in the car and drivers around the distracted driver.
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 3,142 people were killed in 2020 due to distracted driving accidents. Unfortunately, this is a 1% increase from the year before.
according to the Federal Communications Commission, texting while driving is six times more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk. This statistic underscores the severity of the risk associated with texting and driving, particularly among teenagers.
Real Life Texting and Driving Accident Stories
Reading the statistics above, it’s easy to see just the number and not truly consider that actual people and drivers were involved in these dangerous car accidents.
The issue of distracted driving is a serious one that parents should speak to their children about.
Also, if you’re a parent who checks their phone while driving, it’s important to stop this behavior not only to become an example of a good driver for your teens but to protect yourself and your children while in the car.
Below are some real texting and driving accident stories and articles to remind you that this epidemic can happen to anyone.
Two-Time Distracted Driver
Amanda Clark was a teenager who wrote about her first experience with a texting and driving accident. Her Chevy Trailblazer rolled three times as she was checking her phone. While the car had landed on its roof, she was able to walk away from the crash.
Fast forward to one year later, Amanda did not seem to learn her lesson. She was texting on her phone when she experienced a violent and fatal tragedy. Found unresponsive by paramedics, Amanda passed away the next day.
A Phone Call That Changed Everything
Alan Poulson Photography/Shutterstock.com
In 2005, driver Douglas Kidd picked up his cell phone to make a call about his upcoming golf event. As he was distracted by his phone conversation, a vehicle traveling 50 miles per hour crashed into the side of his car as he was crossing an intersection.
While Douglas miraculously escaped death and survived the accident, he spent a month in a coma and nearly 18 months learning how to walk again.
A Fatal Text
In 2018, high school senior Camryn Lunsford was driving home from work. She was just 26 days from turning 18 and graduating in three months.
As she texted a friend, she drove right under an 18-wheeler in front of her, and resulted in a fatal accident.
It’s unbelievable that it can take just a couple of seconds to ruin your life. No matter how important you think that phone call or text message is, it can wait until you are parked or out of the car.
Who is Most at Risk for Texting and Driving?
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With understanding and parental guidance, we can help reduce these statistics. Let’s delve deeper into the age group most susceptible to this risky behavior—teens between the ages of 15 and 20.
They indeed represent the demographic most at risk for texting and driving. As they make their first steps into the world of independence, the allure of staying connected with their peers often takes precedence over responsibility behind the wheel.
Worryingly, it’s revealed that 9% of fatal crashes involve a distracted driver within this very age group. It’s an alarming fact that sheds light on the gravity of this issue.
Beyond texting, with increasing responsibility and growing horizons, checking emails while driving becomes more prevalent among older teens, adding another layer of danger.
It’s important for adults and parents to communicate these risks in a way that doesn’t incite fear, but fosters understanding and instills responsible behavior. For these young drivers, understanding the importance of focusing on the road can only come from the information we share and the examples we set.
How to Talk to Your Teen About the Risks of Texting and Driving
