Distracted Driving & More

Distracted driving involves any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from the primary task of driving. Distraction, impairment, speeding, and not wearing seat belts are all risky choices that can lead to serious injury and death. Teens, who are still learning the complex skills of driving, are particularly susceptible to distractions while behind the wheel. Don’t let you or your teen become another statistic. Here are the facts:

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. Mile for mile, teens are involved in 3 times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers. In a 2019 study, 39% of teen drivers admittted to texting and driving at least once in the last 30 days.
• According to NHTSA, 3,308 people were killed in 2022 in distraction-related crashes nationwide, with teens having the highest rate of distracted driving crashes involving a fatality.
• A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study revealed that physically dialing a phone while driving increases the risk of a crash as much as 6 times. Texting is riskier still, increasing collision risk by 23 times, as texting involves visual, manual and cognitive distractions.
• A recent AAA study shows that when a teen driver is carrying teen passengers, the fatality rate for occupants of other cars increases 56 percent; for pedestrians and cyclists, it increases 17 percent; and for the teen driver, the fatality rate increases 45 percent.

To combat this growing epidemic, we suggest the following:

• Set a good example: Kids observe and learn from their parents. Put your phone down while driving and only use it when you are safely pulled over. According to the Pew Research Center, 40 percent of teens aged 12 to 17 say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put themselves and others in danger.
• Talk to your teen: Discuss the risks and responsibilities of driving and the danger of dividing their attention between a phone call and the road. Show them the statistics related to distracted driving and urge them to share what they learn with their friends.
• Establish ground rules: Set up family rules about not texting while behind the wheel. Enforce the limits set by the graduated licensing program (GDL).
• Sign a pledge: Have your teen take action by agreeing to a family contract about wearing safety belts, not speeding, not driving after drinking, and not using a cell phone behind the wheel. Agree on penalties for violating the pledge, such as paying for tickets or loss of driving privileges.
• Other dangerous distractions: In addition to cell phone use, distracted driving can include eating, grooming, drinking, listening to or adjusting the radio or MP3 player, using the GPS, talking to passengers, or watching a video, just to name a few activities. Inexperienced drivers are particularly susceptible to these kinds of distractions.

Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Talk to your teen about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. All gas-powered vehicles produce carbon monoxide, a deadly odorless gas released out of the exhaust pipe of the vehicle. Symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure include: fatigue or weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea and/or vomiting, rapid heart rate, irregular breathing, confusion or disorientation, coughing, and chest pain.

Tips to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from your vehicle include:

• Manage routine inspection and maintenance of your exhaust system and mufflers.
• Never leave your vehicle running in a garage with the door down, nor partially down.
• On snowy days, always inspect your tail pipe for any snow or ice that may be causing obstructions.
• If you are stuck in traffic or your vehicle is idling, make sure to partially open a window.
• Consider installing a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your vehicle, and replace the batteries when changing the time on your clock in the spring and fall each year.
• If you suspect the presence of carbon monoxide in your vehicle, exit the vehicle immediately, get fresh air, and seek emergency medical attention right away.