STUDY SHOWS TEENS LEARN TEXTING AND DRIVING FROM THEIR PARENTS

Distracted driving makes the news in San Jose regularly for its devastating effects: it can cause serious car accidents and even claim lives. Teens are often cited as the worst distracted-driving culprits, because texting is a second-nature method of communicating for many of them. However, a recent study shows that teens learn their distracted-driving habits from their parents, making adults a key force in preventing serious accidents.

According to one study by telecommunications company AT&T, 77 percent of teens said that a major force in their decision to text and drive was that they saw adults do it “all the time,” even when adults told kids not to do it. Over half of adults polled in a Pew Research report said that they text or check email while driving and that they are just as likely as teenagers to do so.

Teens who see their parents model certain safety habits while driving are likely to fall into those same habits themselves, for better or worse, according to some studies. For instance, teens whose parents regularly buckle up and who tell their passengers to buckle up are more likely to require seat belt use when they begin driving. Likewise, teens whose parents avoid texting or cell phone use while driving are more likely not to take up the practice themselves.

Young drivers are at a higher risk of injury due to their inexperience behind the wheel, especially in a sudden emergency. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, the skilled San Jose distracted driving accident attorneys at Caputo and Van Der Walde – Injury & Accident Attorneys can help. Call us today at (800) 900-0863 for a free and confidential case evaluation.