Stay Alive; Just Drive

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers with distracted driving as one of the top causes. An American Automobile Association study recently revealed that teens in general were more likely than other drivers to be distracted behind the wheel with female teens were twice as likely as their male counterparts to engage in distracted driving.

The study used in-vehicle video footage to specifically focus on young drivers behind the wheel. Although the study found that electronic devices were the source of most distractions – teen girls were found to talk on the phone and text twice as much as male teens – several other distractions were alarming. Girls were nearly ten percent more likely to reach for an object in the vehicle and twenty-five percent more likely to eat or drink behind the wheel. But, don’t think teen guys are off the hook. Males were twice as likely to turn around in their seats and communicate with people outside their vehicle. Other distractions were adjusting controls and loud conversation and horseplay especially when multiple teens were present.

How do we help stop talking on cell phones use and texting while driving especially among our young drivers? One way is the Drive Safe anti-texting application from PhoneGuard, Inc. which is designed to disable a driver’s ability to review, send or receive texts. This mobile technology utilizes GPS data to determine whether the phone is in a moving vehicle. If the vehicle is moving faster than 10 miles per hour, the screen is locked rendering it impossible to read or write text messages, emails, or any other activity that requires you to look at the screen.

While this application can save many lives, nothing beats education. What are you doing to make sure your teen is ready to get behind the wheel? Are you diligent about educating your child on the dangers of distracted driving? Visit www.TeenDriving.AAA.com for some important tips and tools to prepare your teens for safe independent driving.

Mark Bello has thirty-five years experience as a trial lawyer and thirteen years as an underwriter and situational analyst in the lawsuit funding industry. He is the owner and founder of Lawsuit Financial Corporation which helps provide legal finance cash flow solutions and consulting when necessities of life litigation funding is needed by a plaintiff involved in pending, personal injury, litigation. Bello is a Justice Pac member of the American Association for Justice, Sustaining and Justice Pac member of the Michigan Association for Justice, Business Associate of the Florida, Mississippi, Connecticut, Texas, and Tennessee Associations for Justice, and Consumers Attorneys of California, member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan and the Injury Board.