Nationwide, distracted driving is one of the leading causes of fatal traffic accidents involving teenagers. Sadly, teens continue to participate in driving distractions by taking their eyes of the road, their hands off the wheel, or their mind off of driving. Sometimes, teen drivers do all three types of distractions in one single action—texting behind the wheel. This is why texting is probably the most dangerous form of distracted driving.

Composing a text or even reading a text message on a cell phone while the car is moving can be dangerous and even deadly.  However, texting while driving isn’t the only form of distracted driving teens participate in. Other dangerous distractions include:

  • Cell phones – Talking on handheld or hands-free cell phones can lead to teen car crashes in Florida. Unfortunately, most people don’t even realize how much they use their phones while driving. Talking, dialing, and even listening can be a distraction and lower driving performance and safety.
  • Passengers – Chatting with other teen passengers while driving can be distracting. Friends can talk loud, horseplay, and even argue about music selections, which can all be very distracting for new teen drivers.
  • Food and beverages – Eating and drinking can cause teen drivers to multitask behind the wheel. Chewing, unwrapping food, spilling, and wiping can all cause drivers to focus on their food and drink and not on driving.
  • Reaching – Reaching for an object while the car is moving can take a driver’s eyes off the road and hands off the wheel. Many teens reach for music, their phones, gum, and even loose objects rolling around, which can be very distracting.
  • Looking – Focusing on an object outside of the car can be a distraction. When teens look outside the window at what they are passing, such as at a Sarasota auto accident, it can put them and others in danger.
  • Grooming – Applying makeup and hair grooming causes drivers to focus their eyes off of the road, putting them at risk for crashing.

Unfortunately, many teen drivers do not see the link between distracted activities and an increased chance of suffering injury or death in an auto accident. However, drivers who participate in distracted driving in Florida are more likely to crash. If your son or daughter was injured or killed by another teen driver, please call Mallard Perez at 888-409-3805 to speak with a qualified Sarasota car accident lawyer to find out your rights in a free consultation.