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Continuous Need for Connection Is Endangering Road Safety for Teens

Back in the old days, if people wanted to talk on the phone, they had to park their vehicle and use a pay phone. The technology has created a lot of problems, even though it's made all of our lives easier, including all of us here at Ed Voyles Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Marietta, GA. 

By now, teens undoubtedly know that they shouldn't use their cellphones or answer texts from behind the wheel. It would be pretty difficult at this point to find anyone who isn't aware of the fact that answering a text on the road is highly dangerous. All but 3 states (Missouri, Mississipi and Montana) ban text messaging while driving, and my question is--why not all of them? Any cell phone use by new or teenage drivers is banned in 38 states and the District of Columbia because of the dangers associated with distracted driving.​

Maybe the problem is that we're all too connected, including young people? Professor Catherine C. McDonald, Ph.D., RN, is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) located at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where she conducted research to learn why teenagers texted while driving.

Teenage focus groups told McDonald they felt they had to be "constantly connected" using their cell phones, including while they were driving. The dangers of texting didn't seem to faze them at all.

Is Our Need to Be Hyperconnected Playing a Role?

In another study, the Pew Research Center reported last year that 72 percent of all teenagers checked for messages or notifications as soon as they awakened up every morning. About 40 percent of them  said that they felt anxious when they don't have their cellphones with them. More than 1/2 of all the teens that were surveyed claimed that they felt lonely, disconnected, and/or upset without their mobile devices in their possession.

Teenagers know that they shouldn't be so attached to their cell phones, texting, talking and social media apps. The Pew Research Center learned that more than 1/2 of the teens they surveyed in 2018 were taking steps to cut way back on their cellphone use.

The best description Pew researchers provided for the relationship between teenagers and their cell phones ( along with 15 percent of parents ) was "hyperconnected."

What Do Teenagers Say about Cell Phone Addiction and the Dangers of Distracted Driving?

Teenagers are fully aware that using their cell phones in a vehicle is dangerous and told McDonald that they felt empowered when they made decisions concerning their passengers, cell phone use, and/or safe driving. Some even provided examples of how passengers could answer their phones or text enabling the driver's attention in order to stay on the road.

Teenagers were also aware, however, that "bad" passengers could easily distract them while driving by showing them videos or humorous pictures/texts.

In addition, teenagers also see their cell phones as safety devices, and they are surely right: we all want our cell phones nearby in case of car trouble or other related emergency needs.

Being connected via personal devices all the time can be problematic and that includes adolescents as well. Talk to your teenagers and let them know that when they're driving, they should put their cell phones away and keep them out of reach.

Ed Voyles Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Marietta, GA 30060 

Sources: Pew Research Center and Center for Injury Research and Prevention